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First of all, “Coraline” has nothing to do with Tim Burton. It simply shares the same director, Henry Selick, as “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” Having said that, this movie is perfectly on par with the delightful creepiness of Burton’s works. Playing on “Alice In Wonderland” themes such as the mysterious rabbit hole, “Coraline” will leave you speechless and desperate to see it again to catch all the details as soon as the credits roll.
Coraline Jones, voiced by Dakota Fanning, is a spunky blue-haired girl, unhappy in her new home. She and her parents have recently moved from Oregon to Michigan. Coraline is ignored by her complacent parents and annoyed by her neighbor Wybie. Her bizarre neighbors offer no solace in this dull place. Desperate for adventure, she explores their dingy apartment and finds a small door leading to a tunnel to another world.
In this parallel universe, Coraline discovers parents resembling her own, but this mother cooks grand meals and dotes on her while the father is wonderfully wacky and plays piano. The garden that was once gray and dying now flourishes with fascinating flora. Her quirky neighbors now seem exciting and fabulous. But as Coraline revels in her newfound wonderland, she can’t help but notice a few strange details. For one, everyone in this new world has buttons where their eyes should be. While she finds the grass much greener on this side, she senses something sinister behind those eyes. With the help of a feral cat, Coraline discovers the evils lurking behind the facade of this seemingly ideal world.
Fanning breathes life into the character of this headstrong 11-year-old braving the unknown. Teri Hatcher, best known for her role in “Desperate Housewives,” shines as both versions of Coraline’s mother. The fantastically crafted animation aside, Hatcher’s voice adds a level of unexpected viciousness.
“Coraline” demands to be seen in 3D. Although there are few moments when something jumps off the screen, the detail brought to life is breathtaking. The images are so richly dimensional, it’s tempting to reach for a flower in the garden or grab a star from the sky.
“Coraline” may appeal to the grade-school set, but the majority of its content is dark and unsettling. This is not to say that children won’t enjoy themselves, but it’s not necessarily the best movie to watch before bed. Coming from a college student who has seen more than her share of horror movies, this PG-rated tale is more terrifying than the lot of them. Yet somehow it manages to be charming and whimsical at the same time.
The tagline reminds us to “be careful what you wish for,” made clear by Coraline’s misadventure. Perhaps it should be shown to bratty, ungrateful children so they will begin to appreciate their “boring” parents. In any case, as the first full-length stop-motion animation film of its kind, “Coraline” sets a precedent and will, by turns, surprise and disturb you.
Grade: A
