Fantasized Realism & Heartfelt Charm Elevate 1950's Homage

Rating: 8/10 (29 June 2016)

It's an Odd Animated Film that Failed to Capture Box-Office Gold in 1999, but has since Gained a Huge Following.
Charming in its Simplistic Storyline and for that matter it's Animation, the Movie is Familiar with its Boy and His Pet Adventure and its 1950's Sci-Fi, Real-World, Cold-War Paranoia.
Newspaper Headlines, Television, Comic-Books, and a Fatherless Child (Dad died in the War), all lend a Sense of Giddy Verisimilitude to the Proceedings.
By Today's Standards the Animation can Look a Bit Sketchy at times but it never Loses its Appeal and Cranks Up when it Needs in the Action Sequences. The Script is not Dumbed Down and Respects the Kids Ability to Understand what's Going On, and the Humor is Sharp without being Gross or Slapstick.
As a Bonus there isn't one Sappy Song to Distract. Overall, it's Not a Great Animated Movie but it sure has a Classic Feel and Holds Up just Fine.