Movie review: The enjoyable 'Rise of the Guardians'

“Rise of the Guardians” is based on a premise so simple, it’s brilliant: what if all our cherished childhood figures knew each other? And what if they banded together to face the forces of darkness, in much the same way the Avengers do? But for kids!

 

While the fantastical characters’ depictions may differ somewhat from their traditional renderings, the lineup is recognizable to anyone who’s ever had an imagination. Heading up the pack is Santa himself—referred to here as North—played by Alec Baldwin as a heavily-tattooed, Russian mobster-accented barroom brawler (who swings a mean sword) with a heart of gold.

 

Along for the ride are Bunny (of the Easter variety, played by Hugh Jackman, in all his Australian glory), Tooth (the Fairy, played by Isla Fisher) and the silent, somnambulist Sandman. Together, the four are known as the “Guardians.” Joining them here is Chris Pine’s (“Star Trek,” “Unstoppable”) Jack Frost—who, while not as inherently beloved as his future compatriots, manages to come into his own over the course of the film.

 

Frost is the (future) Guardian who gets the short end of the stick, invisible because, well, nobody really believes in Jack Frost. It’s easy enough to believe in tooth fairies and elderly elves coming into one’s house in the dead of night to leave gifts and/or cash, but cold weather’s just cold weather, as far as the children of the world are concerned.

 

Based on author-illustrator/production designer William Joyce’s (“Toy Story”, “Rolie Polie Olie”) classic novels, “Rise of the Guardians” gets the CGI treatment and, hyperbolic as it may sound, it is accurate to say you’ve never seen an animation quite like this. While appropriate credit must go to first-time feature director Peter Ramsey for creating a fast, fun film for families to enjoy, special mention must be made of the contributions of producer Guillermo del Toro (“Hellboy,” “Pan’s Labyrinth”) and Academy-Award-winning cinematographer Roger Deakins (“True Grit,” “Skyfall”), who served as “visual consultant.”

 

The story opens with a beautifully rendered prologue that introduces us to Frost, an amnesiac who awakes to discover he has the power to manipulate low temperatures. Flashing forward past 300 years of aimless existence, Jack is approached by the Guardians to aid them in thwarting the film’s version of the bogeyman, the Nightmare King, Pitch (played with lip-smacking menace by Jude Law).

 

Pitch’s plan involves destroying the dreams of children everywhere, causing them to lose faith in their beloved childhood figures, which will literally erase the Guardians from existence.

 

The coming-of-age plot, straightforward as it is, gets a lot of mileage out of poking fun at the audience’s knowledge of its characters’ conventions. Everything from Santa’s workshop being staffed by elves and yeti to the existence of the Easter Bunny’s egg depository are setups for several winks, nods and one-liners. Adding to the fun is the voice cast, whose members are not only clearly in on the joke, their group dynamic is of a level many live-action films would kill to have.

 

Perhaps the best expression of the film’s character interactions, imaginative designs and irreverent-yet-respectful script is a sequence in which the assorted characters accompany Tooth on a tooth-collection run.

 

Striking a balance between the whimsical photo-reality of Pixar and the unabashed “cartoony-ness” of Fox and most Dreamworks animated productions, “Guardians” is a visual delight, “filmed,” staged, lit and framed with all the freedoms animation allows, but tempered by the considerations of a live-action piece. The various powers and effects on display were particularly well done, from Sandy’s visual “dialogue” to the nightmares that the guardians must combat later in the film.

 

The only caveat this reviewer would have with the film is how the screenwriter chose to “resolve” the issue of Frost’s forgotten past, especially given its supposed narrative importance.

 

“Rise of the Guardians” doesn’t break new ground. Fortunately, of the old ground that it does cover, it does surprisingly well and, backed up by impressive visuals, makes for an enjoyable time at the movies, perfectly timed to coincide with the holiday season.

 

And, if nothing else, it taught this writer to stay off the Naughty List and to never, ever mess with the Easter Kangaroo, er, Bunny. –KG, GMA News

 

A lifelong fan of cinema and literature kept ambulatory by an ungodly mix of sugar, caffeine and adrenaline, Mikhail Lecaros is a professional magazine editor and freelance writer who's decided that he wants to be Hunter S. Thompson if and when he is forced to grow up. The views expressed in this article are solely his own.

 

Photos courtesy of Dreamworks Animation