![\"\"](\"http:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/08\/ParaNorman.jpg\" "\\"ParaNorman\\"")
<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cParaNorman\u201d is one of those animated kids\u2019 movies that\u2019s filled with dark, deathly subject matter. At various points we see ghosts, corpses, zombies, and all manner of gruesome stuff in between. Yet there\u2019s no mistaking that this qualifies as family entertainment. You\u2019d think Tim Burton would have something to do with it, but he clearly had his hands full with his own creepy kids\u2019 movie, \u201cFrankenweenie\u201d, due out later this year. \u201cParaNorman\u201d does the genre proud; it\u2019s hardly scary and very funny. Kids and adults will both find something to like, and often they\u2019ll find themselves liking the same things.<\/p>\nNorman (Kodi Smit-McPhee) is a child who can talk to ghosts. In and of itself, this is a gift. He can exchange pleasantries with otherwise lonely spirits and pal around with his late grandma (Elaine Stritch). The problem is that nobody else can see or hear the ghosts when Norman talks to them, so he looks like a death-obsessed weirdo who talks to thin air. This makes him a social outcast and a target for bullies like Alvin (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), though he does make a friend in the dim-but-loyal Neil (Tucker Albrizzi). The worst part is that his own family seems ashamed of him. It\u2019s not surprising that he gets ridiculed by his teenage sister Courtney (Anna Kendrick), but even his relationship with his parents (Jeff Garlin and Leslie Mann) is strained.<\/p>\n
The plot kicks into gear when Norman gets a visit from his crazy uncle (John Goodman), who needs Norman to perform a ritual. The uncle has the same abilities as Norman, and a lifetime of ostracism has turned him kooky for real. Norman may be in store for a similar fate if his strange behavior remains unchecked. Determined to try and conform, Norman initially dismisses his uncle\u2019s instructions, which leads to a zombie invasion. Norman has to work with Courtney, Alvin, Neil, and Neil\u2019s lunkhead brother Mitch (Casey Affleck) to prevent the release of a greater evil.<\/p>\n
Norman may have some misery in his life, but the movie is mostly pretty upbeat. There\u2019s a lot of fun to be had at the expense of the characters\u2019 stupidity and craziness. Sometimes it makes them affable (like with Neil and Mitch), sometimes it humbles them when they\u2019re arrogant (like with Alvin and Courtney), and sometimes it just makes for some over-the-top silliness (like with Norman\u2019s uncle and a ham of a drama teacher played by Alex Borstein). I also found the macabre humor to be consistently delightful, though it can get gross at times. Let\u2019s just say that if you don\u2019t think it\u2019s funny when zombies lose their limbs, maybe this isn\u2019t the right film for you. One complaint: with so many animated zombies running around, how can the film fail to pay homage to the video for Michael Jackson\u2019s \u201cThriller\u201d?<\/p>\n
The film loses steam toward the end when it forgets to be funny and harps on an anti-bullying message. Social commentary is actually quite common in zombie movies (often the zombies are symbols of complacency), but the way it\u2019s done here is awkward and doesn\u2019t fit with the tone of the film. I got the distinct impression that the filmmakers were told late in the game that they needed to somehow \u201cwork in\u201d some ruminations on the hot-button issue.<\/p>\n
The preachy ending caused me to leave \u201cParaNorman\u201d with a bad taste in my mouth, but up to that point the film was a lot of fun. Whole families were definitely getting a kick out of it, and in fact I was rather surprised by the crowd\u2019s level of enthusiasm. There\u2019s no shortage of creepy kids\u2019 movies coming out this year, but you\u2019d do well to catch \u201cParaNorman\u201d and enjoy it as a family.<\/p>\n
Three Stars out of Five.<\/p>\n
\u201cParaNorman\u201d is rated PG for scary action and images, thematic elements, some rude humor and language. Its running time is 93 minutes.<\/p>\n