ParaNorman

A younger demographic's Sixth Sense: ParaNorman Review

Kodi-Smitt Mcphee (The Road, Let Me In) plays Norman, and has a real talent in voiceover acting. (Courtesy of Washington Post)

"I see dead people" checks in at #44 on AFI's list of the Top 100 Movie Quotes, mainly because it represents a massive plot shift in The Sixth Sense, and is delivered with chilling insecurity from Haley Joel Osment in his Oscar-nominated role. In ParaNorman, Norman can see dead people, too, but unlike Cole Sear, he embraces his difference. His peers don't, leading to his social isolation and torment, mainly caused by his classmate Alvin, who resembles Francis from TV's "The Fairly OddParents" almost identically. 

Since no one believes Norman's claims, even Norman's family isn't proud to have him living in their home. The only person who seems to take a liking to Norman is his awkward, chubby companion Neil, who mixes all the best parts of Rowley from Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Chowder from Monster House, and when told by Norman that he prefers to be alone, responds with "Me too! Let's do it together." 

The concept of ghosts walking the planet is similar to the way it's portrayed in M. Night's most respectable film - they roam the earth, stay near their loved ones, and only move on after they resolve their unfinished business. Norman is told by a fellow deceased-conversationist that because he's one of the few that can talk to the dead, he needs to stop an evil that is coming to his town. 300 years ago, a witch cursed the accusers who prompted her execution by making them rise after their own deaths. Norman learns that today's the big day, and zombies are coming unless he puts a halt to it. Neil, Alvin, Norman's older sister, and Neil's older brother also get roped into finding a solution to rid the town of its new undead inhabitants.

I was never a big fan of the bulky claymation found in ParaNorman, Coraline, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and the like. However, I was able to overlook that in this movie. The characters were impressive and the screenplay and witty and surprisingly sophisticated for a supposed children's film. Make no mistake, this is not a kiddie movie. There's plenty of suggestive dialogue and imagery, and the content and plot twists are not only mature, but oftentimes disturbing. 

What really made me appreciate and enjoy this movie was it's inclusion of comedic social commentary. Using your cell phone as a flashlight, hitting on a buff guy who turns out to be playing for the other team, the skinny-waist/huge-badonkadonk figure today's teenage girls strive to embody, and even those jaw-dropping gauges people have that make you want to scream "WHY DO YOU HAVE HUGE HOLES IN YOUR EARLOBES? THAT'S DISGUSTING!" are all included. 

The real demographic this movie was striving for was clearly not that of age 10 and below. There are too many adult plot devices, as well as scenes that probably would scare an everyday kindergartner half to death. This is a really strong PG, and was most likely a borderline PG-13, But with today's film rating standards, we're lucky this didn't get a G rating. In other words, don't dismiss this just because it's PG. If you're a teenager, you'll probably enjoy this much more than any elementary school student. If you're an adult, you'll probably enjoy the social satire. I know I did.

This movie is a nominee for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards this year. I must emphasize how sincerely disappointed I am Rise of the Guardians didn't get a nod. Of the five nominees in the category this year, I've only seen one other, Brave, but of these two, Brave's got nothing on ParaNorman, which right now has my vote. 

Rating: 4/5