Whimsical, enchanting, delightful – with a savory tinge of all things eerie – these are the fundamental elements of a classic Burton film. Love him or hate him, you can’t deny the individuality he brings to the table. Although some of his dishes are more bland than others, there’s an inexplicable sort of exclusive magic within each of his works. It’s precisely this quality which incessantly keeps audiences coming back for more.”Frankenweenie” dons Burton’s trademarks in every aspect. Lonely adolescent male protagonist? Check. Dismal suburban neighborhood consisting of flawless grassy yards and seemingly endless rows of streets? Check. Like “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “The Corpse Bride,” etc… “Frankenweenie” is the result of a meticulous process: stop-motion animation. According to Variety, Burton employed “about 33 animators working to produce five seconds of film per week apiece.” Talk about a difficult project! Furthermore, the entirety of the movie is in black and white – which serves to maintain the bleak environment. Thus, the heart of the movie lies within its characters: namely, the dynamic between young Victor Frankenstein and his beloved dog, Sparky.Relatively early in the film, the boy’s dog comes to an unfortunate fate when he is struck by a car. In a scene following this incident, Victor’s parents console him, assuring him that if they could bring Sparky back, they could. However, this does little to reinvigorate poor, brokenhearted Victor. Upon observing his science teacher demonstrate a means of reanimating dead tissue using electricity, he decides that he will do all he can to bring his dog back to life.
Brimming with irrepressible charm, “Frankenweenie” effectively overcomes both its shortcomings and predictable storyline. Despite not being the foremost of Burton’s works, it’s undeniably enjoyable. So, the verdict? Hurry and purchase your tickets to your local movie theater this weekend – if you’re as easily touched as I am, a few sappy, happy instances may even draw tears to your eyes.
Grade: B