If you follow my reviews at all, you’ll notice I don’t do very many of the kiddie flicks. I did a Garfield one a while back, but outside of that I’ve been doing more of the grown up titles. But now I’m back in the animation department for a day or two anyway. And I’m actually quite impressed.
I didn’t know what to expect with this movie, I hadn’t heard much about it and I was basically just swinging in the dark when I decided to review it. It tells the story of Igor, believe it or not, who is a hunchback who helps a mad scientist. Obviously, you’re first thought is probably Frankenstein, I know that’s what mine was, as it turns out in this movie, Igor is an entire class of citizens. Basically, if you’re born with a hunchback, you go to Igor school. Great message for the kids there, “Go ahead and stereotype kids, no harm can come of it.”
But the movie does focus on one particular Igor who wants to grow up to be a mad scientist. But since he has a hunchback, his choice is rather limited. However, as Igor is helping his mad scientist build a device to be entered in the Evil Science Fair, the scientist gets blown up and Igor gets his chance to be a mad scientist.
I feel like I need to explain why there is an entire civilization with Igors and Mad Scientist and Evil Science Fairs. The country, quaintly named Malaria, used to be a pleasant farming town until a storm rolled in and never left. The king at the time decided the only way for the region to survive was to channel all their brain power into making evil devices and then holding the world hostage for money. And the entire region bought into this and started making evil devices.
The story in the movie is fresh in that it’s completely backwards from what we’re used to seeing. We’re used to seeing the bad guy with a good heart turn to the good side in the end. In this one, we’ve got Igor with a heart of gold desperately wanting to be evil. And it’s not just the story that’s good. There are some flat out laugh out loud jokes and the writing as a whole is great. And the voice actors are perfect too. Especially Steve Buscemi, you know, the weird guy from Armageddon (actually, most of his films). In this movie, he does the voice of a sarcastic, suicidal bunny. Only one problem with his suicidal behavior…he’s immortal. This does go little to far confusing immortal with impervious to pain. Basically, whatever happens to him, he just regenerates, which isn’t exactly immortal but it’s still hilarious.
Then there is the futurama-esque brain in a jar. However, it’s definitely not a smart brain in a jar. His self-made label actually says brian. So he makes a lot of “dur, I’m stupid jokes” which are the jokes I make, so I love it.
Igor is presented in 1.33:1 Anamorphic Widescreen format and Dolby Digital 5.1.
Commentary with Director Tony Leondis, Writer Chris McKenna and Producer Max Howard.
An Alternate opening scene that I am VERY glad they changed.
Concept Art Galleries
Trailers for Angel Wars and Garfield’s Pet Force
This is a kids movie, but adults can find it amusing too. Heck, I’m your typical college kid and I found it entertaining. A good way to start off the New Year. And if you’re one of those parents who wants to know exactly what you’re going to be seeing in terms of violence, the bunny trying to commit suicide is nothing worse than Tom and Jerry or good old Bugs Bunny vs Elmer Fudd. However you may want to remind your kids that they are not immortal. And the professor blowing up isn’t anything gruesome, so it should be all good in the hood.
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MGM Presents Igor. Directed by Tony Leondis. Starring Steve Buscemi, John Cusack, Molly Shannon, and Jay Leno. Written by Chris McKenna. Running time: 87 minutes. Rated PG. Released on DVD: January 20th, 2009. Available at Amazon.com.
