Film Review: "The Boxtrolls" (2014).

"Heroes come in all shapes and sizes...even rectangles" in The Boxtrolls. This stop-motion animated fantasy comedy film directed by Graham Annable and Anthony Stacchi, adapted by Irena Brignull and Adam Pava, based on the 2005 novel Here Be Monsters! by Alan Snow, and produced by Laika. The film centres on a young orphaned boy raised by underground cave-dwelling trash collectors who tries to save his friends from an evil exterminator.

In June 2008, Laika unveiled a slate of projects in development, among which was also an animated feature film adaptation of Snow's novel. In early February 2013, Laika announced that the adaptation would be their next 3D stop motion feature, under the title The Boxtrolls, with Stacchi and Annable set to co-direct, and set for an October 17, 2014 release date. Laika CEO Travis Knight noted that the biggest challenge of the film was to condense a five hundred and fifty-page novel down to a ninety-minute film. Initially the film focused on all five species of creatures found in the original book, but Knight noted that the script "ultimately was hollow" with all the monsters noting "It didn't really have anything to say." The team ended up focusing on the film as Knight thought "there was something that was really compelling about that group of characters". In May 2013, the release date was pushed forward to September 26, 2014. In early December 2013, composer Dario Marianelli was hired to score the film.

The film features the voice talents of Isaac Hempstead Wright, Ben Kingsley, Elle Fanning, Dee Bradley Baker, Toni Collette, Jared Harris, Nick Frost, Richard Ayoade, Tracy Morgan, Simon Pegg, Nika Futterman, Pat Fraley, Maurice LaMarche, and Brian George. Amusingly created characters and performances thanks to both the animators and the talented voice cast. The puppetry is impressive-the trolls and humans are a feast for the eyes-and the stop-motion is fluid

Beautifully animated and solidly scripted, The Boxtrolls will entertain young children while providing surprisingly thoughtful fare for their parents. Few movies so taken with outcasts have felt so appreciatively accepted as this film, the latest handcrafted marvel from the stop-motion artists at Laika. It has its entertaining moments, but this trollish stop-motion animated comedy-adventure cries out for more activity. Although, there's nothing beneath the box of the trolls. Witty and fast-paced, sure, but the film sometimes lacks substance. Nonetheless, it's an engaging entertainment, with a solidly constructed storyline. The film has a unique look that's equal parts old school and cutting edge. The film took a huge risk on a weird concept, and it paid off enormously. The film will entertain your whole family with its big, sweet, troll heart. The movie is full of surprises, not the least of which is what those surprises actually are. My favorite part about this movie aside from the animation is this message that even if you're a troll or outcast surrounded by family, then you'll never be alone. Whether or not you have children in your life, the film deserves a spot on your animation watch list this year.

Simon says The Boxtrolls receives:

Also, see my review for ParaNorman.