Film Review: ‘Frankenweenie’ is Visually Rich, But Lacks Monstrosity

CHICAGO– The immersion that is possible in modern animated films is so rich now that it is practically reality. “Frankenweenie,” the newest puppetry-style film from director Tim Burton, is heroically painted onto the screen’s canvas, but the limp retelling of the Frankenstein movie myth doesn’t live up to the visual tone.

Rating: 3.0/5.0

Burton and screenplay writer John August fashion kid and animal characters that are reminiscent of the Universal Studios Frankenstein movies of the 1930s, and put them into the same situations – with variations for other monster movie tributes. Besides the poignant beginning regarding a boy and his dog, the rich look of the film and a strangely drawn science teacher, the story relies more on a kid crew that sounds and acts like Igor, Boris Karloff and of course the hero child Victor Frankenstein. They don’t do anything new, sharp or particularly funny, so essentially “Frankenweenie” ends up being a nice but predictable homage.

The setting is the America of the past, probably the late 1960s to early ‘70s. Victor Frankenstein (voice of Charlie Tahan) is a boy science nerd, with few friends, besides his loyal dog Sparky. Victor’s life changes when Sparky is killed in an accident, and he is further isolated in his life. But conditions are about to improve, as the new science teacher Mr. Rzykruski (Martin Landau), shows the class how extreme electricity can reanimate dead tissue.

Young Victor takes this to heart, and sets up an attic laboratory. He digs up Sparky and puts him through the treatment. The pooch is alive, once again. Victor now must hide his experiment from his mother and father (Martin Short and Catherine O’Hara) and his nosy classmate ‘E’ Gore (Atticus Shaffer), who can’t keep a secret. When the word of the miracle emerges, the townsfolk will gather pitchforks and torches to bring down this menace of science.

“Frankenweenie” opens everywhere on October 5th. See local listings for 3D show times. Featuring the voices of Martin Short, Catherine O’Hara, Winona Ryder, Martin Landau, Charlie Tahan and Atticus Shaffer. Screenplay by John August, story and characters by Tim Burton. Directed by Tim Burton. Rated “PG”