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Script: 5

Cinematography: 7

Acting: 7

Special Effects: 9

Rating: 7/10

In my ongoing effort to fill my head with a variety of material that I will hopefully find useful for my own writing projects, I watched Anthony Leondis's Igor.

I arrived at the decision to watch it in a very roundabout sort of way. I'd heard very little about the movie - vaguely recalled some of the trailers - and actually found myself expecting a musical when I sat down to watch. That could have a lot to do with my only previous animated hunchback experience being a certain Disney treatment of a Victor Hugo novel. I watched Igor on a whim. Mostly because the other stuff I had on the "to be watched" shelf bored me. I follow my mood when I select my entertainment, as I'm sure many do.

What I wasn't prepared for from such a littled-hyped movie, was the quality. It was good. Very good. I was surprised. I shouldn't have been surprised - or rather, I wouldn't have been surprised - if I'd taken the time to look at the cast before watching. Many voices were instantly recognizable, from Steve Buscemi to John Cleese to Stifler's Mom (Jennifer Coolidge). They even threw Jay Leno in there for good measure. A great bunch of dinstictive voices. And most of them decent actors.

From scene one, the visual tone was set. I found myself thinking that this would be what might happen if Tim Burton and Dr. Seuss built a world together (that's the dark Seuss, not the light-hearted Seuss of Horton Hears a Who. I happen to adore animation that mixes very shiny, illustrative characters with soft, painterly sets and backgrounds. I like that kind of contrast - when it works. In this case, it works.

Igor is Leondis's directorial debut, for all intents and purposes. He directed the Lilo & Stitch sequel, but since that went straight to DVD it doesn't count as a fully public "outing" as a director. I hope he does more. And I hope he follows in this same path. He won't ever be a Tim Burton, but it's possible he'll be on the shelf you go to when you feel like something Burtony but just can't watch Corpse Bride three times in a week.

The script, penned by Chris McKenna (who until Igor, has only worked as a writer on American Dad), was OK. Never was I jumping from my seat in praise for the writing, as I sometimes do. On the other hand, only once did McKenna make me notice that the script had been written. There was one awkward bit, near the end, that just didn't seem to flow properly, and really made an unfounded leap in plot logic. Luckily, it didn't ruin the whole movie - it just reminded me that I was watching a movie that was created by someone. I don't like when that happens.

All in all, it's a funny adventure, which is somewhat predictable in a safe-feeling sort of way. You might say that Igor stole my heart, then stuck it in a jar to use later.

Learn more about this author, Basil Munroe Godevenos.
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