The best family movie about necrophilia ever...

Rating: 7/10 (15 November 2005)

"Tim Burton's Corpse Bride" isn't as good as "The Nightmare Before Christmas," but in its defence it isn't a retread. Apart from the whole Rankin/Bass special on acid thing, which is in no way a criticism.
This quasi-musical-comedy-horror tale of a betrothed man accidentally married to a corpse gets off to a somewhat stodgy start as it gets its somewhat slim story underway - it might have been suited more for a short story than a movie - and although leaving most of its cast for the movie's credits rather than the posters, even in Britain, is a welcome move (because it gives the movie itself the centre stage, not the cast), it has to be said that Johnny Depp is almost bland as the voice of Victor; maybe it might have helped if he sang. Also, the visual trick of having the world of the living be just one tone away from being black and white and the world of the dead in full, vibrant colour wears thin before the end, although that's just about the only thing about the visuals that doesn't.
But as the tale moves along it gets both funnier and more involving, with Danny Elfman's variable songs (as the voice of Bonejangles, he gets the best one) made up for by his own familiar but still effective score; the movie might not have much story, but it also doesn't overstay its welcome... which, given that the ultimate revelation about Barkis (an excellent Richard E. Grant) isn't much of a revelation at all, is probably just as well. With terrific stop-motion animation throughout to boot and a great wedding finale (though I won't give away who gets hitched), this movie may not be for everyone, but it's ultimately a delight.
Ironically for a movie where nearly everyone is dead, this is full of life.