A Lesson in creativity

Rating: 8/10 (7 October 2009)

In all honesty I wasn't expecting much when going to see this movie. My lack of anticipation was most probably due to the movies trailer and how storyless it presented this movie as being. I was perhaps expecting something along the lines of 'Bee movie' with a messy plot and a directionless outcome. Needless to say I was pleasantly surprised.
The inventiveness of this movie was what won me over. Countless times I was amazed by the sheer novelty of ideas and their perfect execution. Additionally, once you've adjusted to the protagonists voice (which I initially perceived as being a bit miscast), the characters were mostly endearing creating a strongly fuelled interest in the outcome of the film.
'Meatball's' structure also deserves a mention. In general, animated movies seem to follow the tried and tested 'Hero vs villain' model which to any film veteran fast becomes tiresome. The development of this film's plot took a somewhat different approach and was considerably uniquely structured and paced very well. The lack of story in the trailer is guessedly due to the desire of the producers to keep the plot developments as unanticipated turns (and rightly so).
Many many times throughout I found myself laughing loudly in unison with the rest of the audience who seemed to be having as much fun as the crowd I was with. Most of the jokes worked and the repeating comedy themes (the hilarious 'rat-birds' to name one) never failed to bring out a fit of laughter.
My only complaint is that at some points there was perhaps an excess of originality creating the feeling that they were trying to cram as many ideas into the space of an hour and a half as conceivably possible. I sporadically found myself overwhelmed and desiring some filler scenes to give the movie more of a flow.
Well, if the trailer hasn't won you over and you're deliberating as to whether or not you think you'll enjoy, take my advice, forget the trailer and go and watch the most inventive and hysterical movie you'll see in quite some time...