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The trailers for Big Hero 6 did not reveal much about the film, which makes a change; but it did force down everyone’s throats that it’s better watched in 3D. A cynical fallacy designed to maximize profit and get more money out of unsuspecting parents. It’s enough to put you off altogether but don’t let it.
Before going into detail about the film itself, comment must be made on the pre-film short that Disney Animation Studios have included with this release: Feast. It is solely in the perspective of a dog found in the street. He is fed different things by his owner. That is it. You can tell that it has someone from Pixar involved as for the few minutes that this lasts, it tells a moving story about love found and lost.
The emotional element is an indicator of what is to come.
One of the major themes of Big Hero 6 is loss. The main character is undergoing the grieving process and despite being largely a kids film, it does not shy away from this. It also subliminally includes more wholesome moral values such as the futility of revenge, the importance of friendship and education, of using your gifts and not wasting them on dossing about. Such preaching does not detract from enjoyment of BH6.
Baymax is an inspired creation by writers Jordan Roberts and Daniel Gerson. He is a healthcare robot made of inflatable vinyl plastic, which renders him cumbersome and slow with his thick robot thighs chafing against each other making a funny squeak as he walks. Well-voiced by Scott Adsit (30 Rock), the way he slowly negotiates obstacles with his large frame provides a lot of physical comedy that doesn’t wear thin at all.
No one will feel let down with the amount of action in this adventure. A pivotal technology called microbots that can build anything you can imagine using a neurohelmet that reads thoughts in your brain. It is impressively realised causing both creation and destruction.
A slight criticism would be that they have contrived the plot to be able to show off technological advancements within the animation industry. In Big Hero 6, the big one is incredibly realistic smoke, fire and particle effects, that they see fit to fill the screen to show how clever they are. Well done but don’t labour the point.
You don’t need to see this in 3D to enjoy it to the full. Plot discussion has been minimized in this review in keeping with Disney’s trailer campaign. It’s got robots in it and they do cool stuff, including Robot Wars. San Craig Charles but still cool nevertheless.