Marvel-based Disney Movie Stands Its Ground

Rating: 9/10 (11 November 2014)

Following from Disney's impressive box office wins that was left off with the phenomenon 'Frozen,' I was not exactly sure what I was in for, so I went to check it out with family. Since it's Disney's first animated superhero film, I expected it to reach the ranks of most recent successful superhero movies that have dazzled and graced the movie screens way before it. Upon leaving the theater, I was left bewildered and curious over it all. I know Big Hero 6's origins were initially from a Marvel comic, but the movie has proved that it can stand its ground as a Disney animated feature in its own right. With Disney's incredible winning streak of past Revival Era hits like 'Princess and the Frog,' 'Tangled,' 'Wreck-It Ralph,' and 'Frozen,' I have to say Big Hero 6 is no exception.
As much as I've appreciated Frozen's characters and impressive songs, this movie is certainly NO musical of any kind. Instead, it has the potential to reach the ranks like 'Wreck-It Ralph' in terms of a legitimate, yet compassionate adventure story despite it feeling overshadowed by Frozen's currently popular fanbase.
In a futuristic tech-based city aptly titled San Fransokyo, the story features 14-year-old prodigy Hiro Hamada with a knack in robotics that he graduated high school ahead of his peers. Hiro's life is forever and drastically changed when a mysterious masked figure threatens to use the boy's intellect for his own devious plot.
It has an unusual, yet interesting formula: Disney humor, Marvel-induced action, and a touch of cyberpunk with dramatic themes that strikes an uncanny resemblance to Japanese Anime. The city's setting was well-detailed and finely assembled that it gave off the vibrant concept of "What would happen if Tokyo ever did fully go cross-culture with San Francisco?" While 'Frozen' has the likable snowman Olaf, the scene stealer for this movie is inflatable nurse robot Baymax (done with impressive voice work by 30 Rock's Scott Adsit behind the controls) with a personality that displays innocence, but is further backed up by learning human traits around him. Actor Ryan Potter delivered well in voicing boy genius Hiro by balancing both scruffiness and intelligence into his character. That bond between Hiro and Baymax somewhat began to remind me of the one shared between Ralph and Vanellope in 'Wreck-It Ralph.' The character Yokai (though his name is not mentioned in the film) was a formidable villain who doesn't monologue and instead follows his objective in a swiftly manner.
The younger ones who still can't fully comprehend the intensity of Marvel's most recent live-action movies will find this movie just as engaging, yet slightly watered-down and heartwarming at the same time. I know the original Big Hero 6 comic featured a mostly-Asian superhero team as opposed to the multi-ethnic team shown in the film adaptation, but I won't bother nitpicking over that. My true nitpicks, however, were that of Hiro's comrades since they weren't further explored enough in terms of their backstories, more chemistry from them towards Hiro, and the pacing felt a little rushed. However, to avoid spoilers, towards the end is something you yourself might not have guessed happening for one of them. Nevertheless, the entire movie demonstrates that you don't have to be an avid comic book fan (like Fred) to understand it completely, but what really matters is that this is an elaborate and entirely different take from the original source material and has made its mark successfully in Disney's current Revival Era with an amazing story and fast-paced action. I acknowledge the critics were right about this movie with its charms and charisma that I'm willing to see (if possible) another adventure in store for these heroes. Am I satisfied with my care? I certainly am...