Epic (2013) Amanda Seyfried, Josh Hutcherson, Colin Farrell, Christoph Waltz Movie Review

Epic (2013)   3/53/53/53/53/5


Epic (2013)

Not that Epic

Teenager Mary Katherine, aka MK, is reluctantly coming to live with her estranged father, Professor Bomba, who has dedicated his life to studying the forest and what he believes are a civilization called the Lead Men. Whilst MK is out walking she ends up catching a falling lead and ends shrunk down to the size of these Leaf People. Learning that the Leaf People are in danger from the Boggans and their leader Mandrake she sets out to help them and preserve their future before finding a way to return home.

Tick 1, we have a story about a young person who finds themselves in unfamiliar surroundings with people who are alien to them. Tick 2, these alien people are a quirky bunch with a wide variety of shapes, sizes and mannerisms which makes some handsome others comical. Tick 3, have some recognizable actors and actresses providing the voices. Tick 4, there is a quest not only to help those in trouble but also to get back. Tick 5, as this is an animation toss in at least one musical number and a touch of romance. Tick, tick, tick... I could go on because "Epic" ticks one box after another to deliver an animation for a young audience who will undoubtedly enjoy it.

And it won't only be young audiences who will enjoy "Epic" because those who seek visual entertainment which has the wow factor will surely get some entertainment from the visuals on show here. And to be honest there is no denying that "Epic" has a sense of being visually spectacular although at the same time there are a few too many scenes which seem to be there only to highlight the animation rather than tell the story. Basically at times it feels like "Epic" is a bit too self indulgent.

But the over indulgent nature of the animation work is not by biggest problem with "Epic". My biggest problem is that once again the storyline on offer here with a girl ending up on a quest to help some little people and that is so unoriginal that it makes this even more of a movie focused on wowing with the animation work rather than anything else.

What this all boils down to is that the only thing close to epic about "Epic" is the animation work which is at times staggering. But for me the rest of the movie is not up to the level of the animation with the storyline being disappointingly familiar.


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