The Boxtrolls
First screened in December 2014
Directors: Anthony Stacchi and Grahame Annable. Animated. Voice Cast: Isaac Hempstead Wright, Elle Fanning, Ben Kingsley, Jared Harris, Dee Bradley Baker, Richard Ayoade, Steve Blum, Pat Fraley, Nick Futterman, Tracy Morgan, Fred Tatasciore, Toni Collette, Simon Pegg, James Urbaniak, Maurice LeMarche, Brian George. Screenplay: Irena Brignull and Adam Pava (based on the book Here Be Monsters! by Alan Snow).

Twitter Capsule: Copious visual detail unwittingly makes film seem heavy. Thin plot. Characters never sparked. I just don't get Laika?

VOR:   I know stop-motion's an endangered form, but as handled here, it connotes exactly what the post-credits easter egg implies: tons of labor, virtually for its own sake. All that fuss and little to savor.



Photo © 2014 Focus Features/Laika Entertainment

Not yet reviewed in full. Grade: C


Academy Award Nominations:
Best Animated Feature

Golden Globe Nominations:
Best Animated Feature

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