Director: Don Hall and Chris Williams
Starring: Ryan Potter, Scott Adsit, Daniel Henney, Alan Tudyk, James Cromwell
Plot: In the town of San Fransoyko, Hiro is a fourteen year robotics prodigy. Although he’s happy to hustle his way through the street robot fighting matches his brother seeks to inspire him to lift his game and enrol in university with him and his friends. When Hiro’s brother dies in an accident he’s left with his brother’s medical robot prototype Baymax. When an evil masked man threatens the city using technology stolen from Hiro, the young expert turns himself, Baymax and their friends into superheroes to take him down.
Review: Hey, Big Hero 6 has been out in cinemas for weeks – why the late review? Well, it’s not out in Australia, where I’m based, and it will continue to not be out until after Christmas. Fortunately I saw an advanced screening for reviewers, but isn’t this essentially rolling out the red carpet for film pirates?
With so many influences vying for attention on this project it’s surprising how well it all comes together nicely. The premise comes from a Marvel comic series of the same name, but has been drastically altered into something new. Characters were redesigned by Ben 10 creators Man of Action studios, and given new live by the Disney team behind Wreck-It Ralph and Frozen. Rather than to many cooks spoiling the broth we have a well balanced and accessible family film.
The story is somewhat dense for the typical Disney experience with a number of characters and technology to introduce as well as their roles in the central conflict. Hiro is the protagonist, starting the film as a brash youth with plenty of talent but not the life experiences to put them to good use. Inspired by the works accomplished by his roboticist older brother he develops a swarm of microrobots who work in conjunction with each other and earns a scholarship to the leading center of study. After Hiro’s brother and their professor perish in a campus fire Hiro feels a great void in his life, until his brother’s prize accomplish meant, medical robot Baymax, begins to fill the need for companionship Hiro craves.
Along with four friends from school Hiro becomes aware of an evil figure in a kabuki mask and Hiro’s microrobots. They form a team of heroes to take him down and recover the stolen goods.
With the state of the industry and the technology there’s not a great deal of wow-factor left in CGI, but movie impresses with it’s amazing visuals. The culture blend of San Fransoyko is a fully rendered 3D model rather than a flat image, and the level of detail is amazing. Seeing the slight wear appearing on the kids armor is a remarkable amount of work for something so small we’re barely aware of it. The character designs are all awesome, with the junior scientists who team with Hiro having their experiments turned into their weapons and identity give everyone a cool, unique look.
Each character has their own unique role to play and given how much story the movie crams in, it’s surprising how much each one gets fleshed out. Amid all the blistering, high speed action the character work with Hiro is remarkable, producing some heartfelt moments that will draw you into their lives and make them feel real.
It’s easy to see this becoming a big merchandise seller for Disney in the lead up to Christmas. Given the blend of action, humor and drama one would be hard pressed to find any strong criticism of it. If it wasn’t competing with Guardians of the Galaxy and The Winter Soldier it would be at the very peak of the superhero sub-genre.
Rating: NINE out of TEN
