An icy pall hangs over the whole thing

Rating: 6/10 (2 May 2003)

Never as funny as it's meant to be early on (with twinkly-cute Dianne Wiest as an Avon lady who calls on an artificial boy with scissors for hands)--nor as moving as it wants to be at the end (when the hero Edward is chased down by a mob)--this modern-day "Frankenstein" has all the nostalgic spirit money can buy, but a lump of coal for a heart. Director Tim Burton knows the notes but not the music; pathos escape him, and he's puzzled on how to effectively stage character-oriented human drama. He's not much better with the Dianne Wiest stuff, which seems coy and a little forced. The picture looks good and, with Danny Elfman scoring, it sounds fantastic. However, the writing is so muddled one comes out of the picture not even knowing how he feels about the damsel in distress (Winona Ryder), or for that matter Edward himself. Johnny Depp is perfect in the lead, but it's a stunt part on one-note. **1/2 from ****