Man talk about a movie that bombed hard at the box office upon release despite being a hit with critics and audiences alike but then would later go on into becoming a cult classic from passionate moviegoers. Well, the Iron Giant based on Ted Huges novel The Iron Man is one of those movies. Unlike other 90’s films like space jam that are not as good when looking past clouded nostalgia, The Iron Giant is a movie that deserves the love it's been getting because it is simply put as an outstanding movie. This film was directed by Brad Bird who would later go on to Pixar to direct The Incredibles and Ratatouille respectively after then creative chief at Pixar John Lasseter was impressed with Birds' work on The Iron Giant. There is a reason why this movie is considered a classic and I’ll tell you why that is in this review.
In the late ’50s, Hogarth Huges (Eli Marienthal) is a typical kid who sadly doesn’t have many friends and is the son of a single mother (Jennifer Aniston) who is overworked at her job. One night, Hogarth discovers an interesting sight when he finds a giant metal robot (Vin Diesel) that gets caught in electrical wiring. Hogarth saves him and the two overtime develop a bond as they try to understand each other and have fun together. However, a man from the government named Kent Mansley (Christopher McDonald) wants to know about the giant's whereabouts so he gets the military to destroy him. Hogarth manages to hide him at Dean’s (Harry Connick Jr) junkyard but how long can Hogarth hide the Iron Giant from the outside world before eventually being discovered?
Now the story of a kid making friends with an otherworldly being is nothing new. This kind of plot is similar to other movies such as E.T or Gremlins yet both Brad Bird and Tim McCanlies’s screenplay makes this movie feel like that this story is being told for the very first time. The story explores such themes as the innocence of childhood and how things are not what they seem. It takes its time with showing off its charm and its heart and there is plenty of thought-provoking and interesting themes and morals that are well explored and well established. Honestly, it's really hard to think of anything wrong with this story. If I had to make one nitpick its that I wish that the transition between the second and third act could have been done a bit better but that detail is very minimal as this is one of the most well-executed stories that has humor, heart, and lots of 50’s sci-fi nostalgia.
Hogarth Huges is a very intriguing kid character and I like how they make him somewhat mich but still have good human traits as well that make him sympathizable. Dean is a nice change of pace as his down-to-earth personality works well with the innocent Hogarth. Kent Mansley is an intriguing antagonist because may be rather stupid at points but still is perceived as an actual threat seeing that he does have the power to stop Hogarth from protecting the Iron Giant. Speaking of which, The Iron Giant himself is by far the best character in the movie because he speaks very little and most of his character comes from his child-like thinking and visual movements. His character is the heart of the entire movie and it is dang near impossible not to fall for how charming he can be.
I know some people think that 2D animation is very childish and kid-oriented but this movie is proof that 2D animation has the same power to evoke feelings with both kids and adults alike. I like how the movie is set in the ’50s but still feels timeless in its execution because it’s less about showing off the period and its amenities and much more about creating an atmosphere. The character designs have a very specific style that feels like director Brad Bird had a hand creating and you can see more of that influence when looking at other Brad Bird productions such as The Incredibles. It's also a great movie to watch during the fall season as there are plenty of beautiful nature shots that show the tree covered in colored leaves and other aspects you’d expect to see in the fall season. Of course, I can’t keep talking about the animation without mentioning The Iron Giant himself. Unlike the other characters, he is completely CGI and yet he blends so well with the 2D imagery. There are even some creative visual choices when it comes to the iron giant that I love such as when he puts himself back together or when we see him in the original form during the third act of the movie.
The Movie’s Music score would be handled by Micheal Kamen and he does a wonderful job with what he was able to accomplish. The score evokes the feeling of innocence and childhood but also the feelings of a 50’s sci-fi movie and the score works wonders with balancing the two into one heck of a rollercoaster of emotions.
Unfortunately, this movie did not become an instant success unlike the other animated movies (Mostly from Disney) that came out around the same time as this one. This movie would sadly be one of the movies that would leave warner bros to shut down their animation department for a while. There is a reason why this movie gets more and more of a following as the years roll by and that is all thanks to a well-written story, lovable characters, beautiful 2D animation, and a great music score. It just goes to show that even a great movie that failed financially at the box office can get the respect and honor it deserves overtime and I am happy to say that its a movie that is worth getting off your butt and watching right now because it’s proof that 2D animation can be just as much for adults as it is for kids.
(Final Grade: A)