Laika Studios, the team behind CORALINE, PARANORMAN, and THE BOXTROLLS are at it again with their fourth stop-motion animated feature, KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS. And let me just say one thing: it’s incredible. Unfortunately I can’t just say one thing, so if my two-word review isn’t enough for you, read on.
Kubo is a young boy in a small village who has the unique gift of sharing stories through his banjo-like instrument and origami. The townsfolk gather around every day to hear his tales, but are always left slightly disappointed because he never has an ending. He races back home to his mother before the moon rises, in fear of what will come for him in the night air. Soon enough he’s thrust into an exciting adventure of his own, mimicking the tales he shares every day. Joining him on his quest is a monkey, voiced by Charlize Theron, and a giant samurai beetle, voiced by Matthew McConaughey, whose sole purpose is to protect Kubo at all costs from the dangers of those they encounter, including a giant skeleton, some creepy swimming eye balls, and even the moon!
First and foremost, these are the most genuine and likable characters I’ve seen in an animated film since Toy Story. They all have flaws, but act accordingly and interact with one another in a way that makes you feel as though you’ve known them for years. Their quirks and eccentricities play off of one another and keep you enthralled even when they’re just talking. The bad guys are no different. No one is bad for the sake of being bad. They have goals just as our heroes do. They think that what they’re doing is right, and even though we know it’s not, we can’t help but feel empathy for them. These characters are all well crafted, written, and compliment the animation in the most beautiful way.
Speaking of the animation… It’s breathtaking. I really believe stop-motion is a forgotten medium and it’s wonderful to see that’s it’s alive and well in the hands of Laika. The detail and craftsmanship are simply unmatched, which adds a great amount to the audience’s engagement with the story. Everything feels real, because we know that it is real. The giant skeleton they fight was an actual 18-foot puppet. The scale is visible, yet absolutely believable. This technique of animation is unlike anything else and it needs to be preserved. The history of stop-motion alone puts this film among some classics.
Finally, the story is wonderful. It keeps you on the edge of your seat, rooting for the heroes, fearing the villains, and racking your mind trying to figure out how they’re going to get out of this one. It’s a legend, a folk tale, a fantasy. There’s magic and evil, spirits, monsters, bravery. Everything you wanted as a kid but can still enjoy as an adult. I really can’t hype this movie up enough. Go and support it in the theater! We need more original stories, especially those created in a lost art form. Kubo is by no means a perfect film. Its pacing is a little off and its message is sometimes unclear, but it deserves to succeed in todays movie industry dominated by reboots, sequels, remakes. If you want to forget about your world for a little while and step into someone else’s, this is the film for you.
3.5 out of 5 stars
KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS – Dir. Travis Knight
Starring: Charlize Theron, Matthew McConaughey, Rooney Mara, Ralph Fiennes
Runtime: 1hr 41min