"Wolfwalkers": Movie Review
Written By Alex Greenbaum
"Wolfwalkers" is a tender celebration of the human spirit. Its gorgeous art design and colorful cast of characters develop a layered storyline that will break even the coldest of hearts. While the introduction fails to captivate, the breathtaking ambition and astoundingly poignant soundtrack with music by AURORA deliver a wholly unique animated experience.
Robyn (Honor Kneafsey), an outgoing young girl, and her protective, wolf-hunting father (Sean Bean) move to Ireland to kill a remaining wolf pack. While doing so, Robyn meets and befriends an unusual girl in the woods (Eva Whittaker), whose mythical powers turn her into a wolf at night.
Directors Tom Moore and Ross Stewart (Stewart's first feature film) deliver a wonderful treat that covers a wide range of emotional themes. Parenting, friendship, and perspectives on life are poetically weaved into its simple yet entrancing narrative. And each thematic element that builds up to its stirring climax is as skillfully constructed as an animated film can be.
It's just unfortunate that its initial set up does little to impress. Tropes and cliches aside, "Wolfwalkers" troubles itself with flat comedic elements and a litany of tedious sequences that do little to progress the plot forward.
Fortunately, the remarkable amount of craftmanship gone into "Wolfwalkers" production is consistently present, even throughout its more flawed moments. Its refreshing and revitalized tale is easy to latch onto once its gears start turning and as the exquisite musical score begins to flow, the film becomes merely irresistible.
Comments
Post a Comment