Mystery, Suspense, Worms!

Rating: 8/10 (11 October 2005)

Burton scores again with this charming story. Part murder mystery, part comedy, part tragedy, and part love story, Corpse Bride is delightful. There's just enough screwball antics and mayhem to keep the kids enthralled, and more than enough witty dialog for the parents.
The story moves along at a brisk pace (not surprising given the oh too brief length of 76 minutes), and so character development leaves quite a bit to the imagination. There's no backstory, and no subplots, but it doesn't take long to become enamored by the characters in Burton's love triangle of the living and the dead. Depp, Bonham Carter, and Watson all turn in laudable performances, and the stop-motion animation is not just truly amazing, but a refreshing break from the computer graphic trend that's become the bread and butter of animated movies.
I think I liked this better than my kids (but they loved it too).