MOVIE OF THE WEEK (11/7/14): BIG HERO 6
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| "Let me upgrade you – where is my Beyoncé CD at anyway?!" Hiro Hamada (Ryan Potter) prepares to upgrade his brother's invention, the health care robot Baymax (voiced by Scott Adsit) in a scene from BIG HERO 6. Credit: © 2014 Walt Disney Pictures. All Rights Reserved. |
WATCH THE TRAILER HERE:
KEY VOICE CAST MEMBERS: Ryan Potter, Scott Adsit, T.J. Miller, Jamie Chung, Damon Wayans Jr., Maya Rudolph, James Cromwell, Alan Tudyk, Genesis Rodriguez and Daniel Henney
WRITER(S): Robert L. Baird, Daniel Gerson and Jordan Roberts (screenplay); Duncan Rouleau, Steven T. Seagle (based on the comic by)
DIRECTOR(S): Don Hall & Chris Williams
60 SECOND PLOT SYNOPSIS (OR AS CLOSE TO IT AS ONE CAN TRY TO MAKE): Based on a Marvel comic book you probably didn't know ever existed, Big Hero 6 tells the story of Hiro Hamada (voiced by Ryan Potter), a teenage genius living in the fictional city of San Fransoyko, (a mashup Tokyo and San Francisco). Hiro lives with his brother Tadashi (voiced by Daniel Henney) and their Aunt Cass (voiced by Maya Rudolph) and spends most of his days trying to figure out what to do with his life since he's already graduated high school.
Into robot fighting, Hiro gets a shock when his brother introduces him to his San Fransoyko University friends, including the genteel Wasabi (voiced by Damon Wayans, Jr.), the tomboy-like Go Go (voiced by Jamie Chung), the energetic, super-friendly Honey Lemon (Genesis Rodridguez) and their mutual science admirer, Fred (T.J. Miller). And under the tutelage of Professor Robert Callaghan, Hiro realizes he could really take his talents to the next level.
Then a tragedy happens, a mysterious man in a kabuki mask starts wreaking havoc and Hiro realizes he has to do something to stop him ... And his brother's latest invention – a compassionate health-focused robot simply known as Baymax (voiced by Scott Adsit), might be the secret weapon he needs.
WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST?: Fans of Japanese-style animation; longstanding Disney animated hero movies; those who like family friendly movies that a mix of heart and humor; people who enjoyed The Incredibles and have been longing for something (albeit very lightly) reminiscent of it.
WHO WON'T – OR SHOULDN'T – LIKE THIS FILM?: People who don't like films they can predict most of the plot of easily; those who feel the film is too much of a "modern" take on the comic book; people who don't like films that use Disney's tried-and-true formula for most of its animated films.
FINAL VERDICT – IS IT GOOD, GREAT, BAD OR DOWNRIGHT AWFUL? Following Disney's tried-and-true animated formula (what, did you NOT think I was gonna use that reference again?), Big Hero 6 is just the latest Disney vehicle that proves the company behind the Mickey Mouse ears isn't slowing down anytime soon.
Big Hero 6 does what essentially all successful Disney movies do: Introduce you to a bunch of nice, interesting, fun characters, then deliver a tragedy (it worked with Bambi; it's probably going to keep working for years to come) and then some fun, coming-of-age moments before dropping in an exciting scene and emotional ending that ties it all together. Other than that, there's not much else you really need to know about Big Hero 6 save for the fact that if you have a child, they will likely be bugging you for any Baymax toys (if you don't want them for yourself). That is because the character - voiced expertly by Adsit – is inherently adorable. (Think of the character as a mix of the innocence of Pixar's WALL*E and the surprising utility of Groot from Marvel's summer juggernaut Guardians of the Galaxy and you should have a good idea of what Baymax is like.)
Executive produced by John Lasseter of Wreck-It Ralph and The Incredibles fame, Big Hero 6 features a hero that is a male version of many of Disney's heroes remixed. For you see most Disney flicks have a protagonist that is: First, either: [1] head strong or [2] shy if not [3] both; second, they have to deal with a [1] tragedy, [2] being a fish out of water or [3] both and Third, they [1] learn they have a special talent, [2] a previous weakness will be their true strength and [3] they realize holding on to something they don't want to let go of is what's holding them back from reaching their true destiny. If you can't figure out which traits apply to Hiro just by watching one of the film's trailers, you either [1] haven't watched a lot of Disney movies, [2] having been paying enough attention or [3] both.
Once you get past that, you'll likely see the other staples of an animated Disney flick (slacker-style supporting character that gets to have all the funniest jokes, a stressed out character who's frustrations are prime for comedy, a nice girl and a tomboy girl, etc.). It's not that original, but it's always done well, so you won't mind – especially given just how gorgeous the film's animation looks in 3D. And no one tugs on your heartstrings the way Disney does, so you might want to wear your 3D glasses to hide your true emotions if you don't want your kids and/or other adults to see you tearing up.
So, in short, you'll laugh, you'll (probably) cry, you'll enjoy Big Hero 6. And the that's just the way Disney intended it to be.
WHO WON'T – OR SHOULDN'T – LIKE THIS FILM?: People who don't like films they can predict most of the plot of easily; those who feel the film is too much of a "modern" take on the comic book; people who don't like films that use Disney's tried-and-true formula for most of its animated films.
FINAL VERDICT – IS IT GOOD, GREAT, BAD OR DOWNRIGHT AWFUL? Following Disney's tried-and-true animated formula (what, did you NOT think I was gonna use that reference again?), Big Hero 6 is just the latest Disney vehicle that proves the company behind the Mickey Mouse ears isn't slowing down anytime soon.
Big Hero 6 does what essentially all successful Disney movies do: Introduce you to a bunch of nice, interesting, fun characters, then deliver a tragedy (it worked with Bambi; it's probably going to keep working for years to come) and then some fun, coming-of-age moments before dropping in an exciting scene and emotional ending that ties it all together. Other than that, there's not much else you really need to know about Big Hero 6 save for the fact that if you have a child, they will likely be bugging you for any Baymax toys (if you don't want them for yourself). That is because the character - voiced expertly by Adsit – is inherently adorable. (Think of the character as a mix of the innocence of Pixar's WALL*E and the surprising utility of Groot from Marvel's summer juggernaut Guardians of the Galaxy and you should have a good idea of what Baymax is like.)
Executive produced by John Lasseter of Wreck-It Ralph and The Incredibles fame, Big Hero 6 features a hero that is a male version of many of Disney's heroes remixed. For you see most Disney flicks have a protagonist that is: First, either: [1] head strong or [2] shy if not [3] both; second, they have to deal with a [1] tragedy, [2] being a fish out of water or [3] both and Third, they [1] learn they have a special talent, [2] a previous weakness will be their true strength and [3] they realize holding on to something they don't want to let go of is what's holding them back from reaching their true destiny. If you can't figure out which traits apply to Hiro just by watching one of the film's trailers, you either [1] haven't watched a lot of Disney movies, [2] having been paying enough attention or [3] both.
Once you get past that, you'll likely see the other staples of an animated Disney flick (slacker-style supporting character that gets to have all the funniest jokes, a stressed out character who's frustrations are prime for comedy, a nice girl and a tomboy girl, etc.). It's not that original, but it's always done well, so you won't mind – especially given just how gorgeous the film's animation looks in 3D. And no one tugs on your heartstrings the way Disney does, so you might want to wear your 3D glasses to hide your true emotions if you don't want your kids and/or other adults to see you tearing up.
So, in short, you'll laugh, you'll (probably) cry, you'll enjoy Big Hero 6. And the that's just the way Disney intended it to be.
OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):
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