Big, bright and cheerful, even if it doesn't manage its heart well, and ultimately turns into another Marvel film for the second half

Rating: Null/10 (7 March 2015)

I watched this film at a strange time in terms of its reception; before its Oscar win it seemed to be a film that most people enjoyed or really enjoyed, however once it won Best Animated Feature, there seemed to be quite the backlash against it. I tried not to pay too much attention to either camp and went into the film for myself. The plot is driven by a device that seems to be quite common and one that more children's films are using – which is death and loss. In this case we have the main character and main villain motivated by the loss of a loved one, and this is what leads them to their respective points. This is something that can be tremendously impacting and also done very well (How to Train Your Dragon 2, for example) but in this case I thought it was a bit too much, too soon – introducing darkness for children, but only being a plot device to adult viewers. I guess the good thing is that at least it occurs early in the film so is out of the way.
From here we get some nice comedy with the lovable Baymax as well as a superhero origin plot, although by far the former is better than the latter. The film from here is much brighter and funnier than some would suggest, and I generally enjoyed what it did, even if it still continued to really be able to balance the heart of the piece. This balancing act is pretty much forgotten by the final third, where it becomes much more a Marvel film than a Disney one. Feeling a touch like Captain America or some film like this, the action sequence and rapid movement is engaging and entertaining, but it does feel like just another action movie whereas the first half of the film felt like much more of a family comedy. These conflicting tones and contents never really gel the way they should, but mostly it works.
Technically the film is astounding. The animation is fantastic in its scale and detail, from the expanse of the city through to the smooth, soft likability of Baymax himself. Okay Hiro looks far too much like he is the lead from How to Train Your Dragon, but otherwise all the characters and action is very well delivered. The very high production standards, good comedy moments, and fast-moving energy in a simple frame all do produce a perfectly fun and entertaining film on the whole, but it is one I enjoyed watching rather than one I would rush back to see again and again. The use of loss and death never feels like more than a plot device, and the heart of the piece is a lot less evident than it would have been in a better film – which is not to say I did not enjoy it for the things it did, just that it is a lot more limited than we have come to expect from huge budget animated family films.