MOOVIE REVIEW : IGOR (2008 - English)

MOVIE REVIEW : IGOR (2008 - English)

Category : Animation, Comedy / Starring : John Cusack, Steve Buscemi, Sean Hayes, Molly Shannon, John Cleese, Jennifer Coolidge, Jay Leno, Arsenio Hall, Christian Slater

I wasn't expecting this animation to be taking on the comedy approach. Judging from the movie poster and reading the synopsis, I thought Igor would be one of those dark, grimly animation with the Tim Burton genre. Of course we would expect a few funny lines or scenes here and there, after all it's animations, but I wasn't expecting the movie to be a full comedy. Right from the beginning the comedy pace sets in, and it was pretty funny until the end. However, not sure why, to me the whole idea of using the dark background of this genre just didn't click so right with comedy, it wasn't exactly the right-on recipe that worked in animations like Shrek, Madagascar or Kung Fu Panda.

Igor_Scamper, Igor & Brian The Brain

The movie takes place in a world called Malaria, where hunchbackled Igors are destined to be nothing more than lab assistants to all the scientists. King Malbert (Leno) soon introduces Malaria to the new economy based on evil scientific inventions, and soon all the scientists are racing to come up with the most monstrous and terrifying machines.

Igor_Igor & Eva

The protagonist of this story is an Igor (Cusack) who is actually scientifically intelligent, but is forced to work on his inventions in secret, and is constantly shunned by his own master, Doctor Glickenstein (Cleese). Igor secretly bears the most ambitious dreams of showing the world his greatest invention in the Evil Scientist Fair, where he will for the very first time in the history of Malaria, create life!

Igor_Igor, Voiced by John Cusack

Igor has two side-kicks, Scamper (Buscemi) and Brian the Brain (Hayes), who happen to be his very own inventions. Scamper is the cynical rabbit who is immortal not by choice, and is constantly trying to end his pathetic life. Brian on the other hand, despite being created solely based on a brain transplanted into a robot, isn't exactly the brainy material. Both of them do set quite a funny mood to the story, and the movie as a whole is OK to watch. But don't expect standards like Shrek or Lion King.

The movie trailer:

Rating : C