Frankenweenie (2012)

Star Rating: ***1/2 (3.5/4 Stars)
When I watch either version of Tim Burton's "Frankenweenie"--whether it's his original 1984 short or the remake--the one thing I think of is how far the "Frankenstein" story has come over the years. More specifically how the movies have shaped how we view the story. If you look at Mary Shelley's original novel published in 1818, you will find it is totally different from the film traditions. Many of the iconic attributes we associate with "Frankenstein"--the hunchbacked lab assistant, the bride with the outrageous hairdo, the blind man in the woods, the policeman with the mechanical arm, the climax at the burning windmill--have all come from the movies and not the novel.

Producers and directors, even comedians, have been "re-animating" the story at every turn. And as if that wasn't enough, now we're bringing dogs back to life. Dogs! I wonder what Mary Shelley would say if she saw what has happened with her creation. It's certainly taken on a life of its own. Dare I say she's created a monster?

"Frankenweenie" (2012) is a few things: it's Tim Burton remaking his own short film of the same name. It's also a homage to the original Universal films from the 1930s. Mostly the "Frankenstein" movies, but all the monsters are in here. This time Victor Frankenstein is a young boy who has knack of filmmaking and science. His only friend is his dog Sparky. When Sparky is hit by as car and killed, Victor gets the radical idea of bringing him back to life. Needless to say, things get out of hand.

When the other kids learn that Victor brought his dog back to life, they're all afraid he'll win first place in the science project, so they all plagiarize and reanimate their pets. One kid brings back a fish who becomes invisible. Another one reanimates a rat who grows into a horrific wolf-like being, and another who brings back a gerbil wrapped in bandages, resembling a mummy. There was a boy who created sea-monkeys resembling The Creature of the Black Lagoon, and an Asian boy who reanimated a turtle who grew five times it's natural size, forming a Godzilla like creature. There was also a girl who tried reanimating a bat, but the electricity struck her cat, and the bat and cat became blended into a vampire-cat.

All these creatures run amok and wreak havoc, sending the film to its familiar climax at an old windmill on the outskirts of town. I sat watching these creatures, wondering exactly what point they served in the narrative. The answer is actually quite simple: to create conflict and add flavor to the story, but most of all this is Tim Burton having fun with his source material. Why not mix it all up? All the monster movie references may generate some eye rolls, but even so, it's too much fun not to like!

"Frankenweenie" does feature some Tim Burton regulars, only this time no Johnny Depp. No Helena Bonham Carter. Instead we have Winona Ryder, ("Beetlejuice", "Edward Scissorhands"), voicing Victor's next door neighbor, who becomes one of his allies as the film progresses. Victor's mother is voiced by Catherine O'Hara ("The Nightmare Before Christmas"). Victor's science teacher is voiced by Martin Landau, who played Bela Lugosi in "Ed Wood" (1994), another affectionate nod to classic horror films. It's nice to see Burton reuniting with some old talent who appeared in, and really made, his earlier and better movies.

One of these being Burton's original "Frankenweenie" short. It's easy to dismiss it without watching it because of the title and the premise. But shorts can be goofy and experimental and get away with it. What's so nice about "Frankenweenie" (1984) is that it turns out to be a really entertaining, ambitious film despite appearances. Burton made a bit of a risky move expanding it into a feature. At least he had the sense to make it an animated film. Animated films can also get away with almost anything plot wise. It turned out to be well worth it though. The remake is well done and just as fun and endearing as the original, even if it does drag in bits. This is definitely Tim Burton's finest work in years.

It's been nominated for an Oscar for Best Animated Film, alongside "Brave", "ParaNorman", "Wreck-It Ralph", and "Hotel Transylvania". I think "Frankenweenie" has a good chance of winning, and personally hope that it does.