Paranorman is a good if not altogether successful homage to horror films. It follows a boy named Norman (voice of Kodi Smit-McPhee) who has the ability to talk to ghosts. In fact..besides a socially awkward classmate named Neil (Tucker Albrizzi)...ghosts are the only people who are nice to him. One night...a bum (voice of John Goodman) warns Norman of The Witch's Curse and it is then that he must take down zombies.
Although I saw the film in incredibly bad 3D...it is a visually stunning film. This is not to say the 3D itself was bad but that the way my theater had it set up was bad. The film looks both like an old 50's horror film and like it just discovered the newest visual technology. The voice work here is also quite impressive. Jeff Garlin, Leslie Mann, Casey Affleck, Elaine Stritch and Anna Kendrick among others give their characters life and personality.
The film also features many nice throwback references to zombie films. At one point in the film a character even tells a zombie she's going to "shoot it in the head." Unlike most animated films where the references feel as if they have been forced in to provide adults with a piece of entertainment or two...these fit right in. Speaking of which..the best thing about Paranorman is that everyone can enjoy it. Whether you're a kid, teenager, adult or senior...there are endless possibilities of stuff you will enjoy in the film.
Lastly-Paranorman is funny throughout. With one scene after another making everyone in my audience laugh...it sure does its job well as both a horror film that is appropriate for kids and a comedy. Although Paranorman does have some slow spots and never reaches its full potential...it is a magical time at the movies. It is bound to be enjoyed by the masses and it is the perfect film to get prepared for Halloween with.
(4 out of 5 Stars, The film is rated PG for scary action and image, thematic elements, some rude humor and language)
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