Pretty awesome but nothing particularly original

Rating: 9/10 (7 January 2015)

This movie was very colourful and creative and enjoyable. It felt very familiar though. It has many things in common with The Incredibles and The Iron Giant, from general themes to plot, style and even many specific scenes and details. The story of this movie is nothing new, but then, very few movies are truly original anyway.
The animation is very good, the humour works really well, the characters are likable; it doesn't go for tired, predictable jokes. Although some of the jokes are a bit obvious, they're still well executed, feel natural and fit in with the flow of the movie. The robot is the coolest character by far. Like E.T. or The Iron Giant or even The Terminator (in the sequel), he learns things and is adorably oblivious and naive. He has simple morals but grows throughout the film. He is a mirror to humanity. His relationship to Hiro is the heart of the movie.
But of course, those themes have been better explored in all those other films I've mentioned and this one doesn't break any new ground. In the first major fight scenes, the heroes clearly clash with each-other, they aren't harmonising, but that idea wasn't brought up. There's a thing about looking for a new angle to solve a problem but it isn't fleshed out either; it sounds cleverer than it is. The plot is actually very typical and none of the potential ideas get explored in any depth.
Nevertheless, the quality of the visuals, the voice acting, the dialogue, the timing - they're all very good. It has a lot of young, fresh energy. It has a few very funny parts and some quite sad moments that could make anyone shed a tear. Its strength is its simplicity (and efficiency); it doesn't shoot itself in the foot with too much exposition or melodramatics like most films. But again, it has nothing new. It reminded me too much of these other, arguably superior films which I've already mentioned. Every Pixar film is at least as good looking and insightful and touching. Big Hero 6 doesn't have a strong enough pull of its own. But I certainly look forward to a sequel if they can live up to the standard set by this one, hopefully with some improvements.
One weakness with the action was that it was too flat. It was easy to follow and cool and crazy and well planned out, but you don't feel the speed, the movement, the flow, the build-up of tension or suspense. It's just a barrage of images. Great for kids probably but it could be much more than that. It's like a kid playing with toys. Each part of the action conveniently fits in with everything else - there's no danger (until we get to "that part"). The good guys are struggling badly but then, of course, come out victorious. But then there's a twist and they're gonna die... and then they win again, and so on. The movie has little bits of gritty realism, but mostly it cops out with relatively clichéd set pieces.
So why a 9? Because it's really well made, doesn't have major flaws, highly quotable and feels like it was made with passion. And just generally it's awesome.