Coraline Review

Coraline

Released: 6 Aug 2009
Cast: (Voices of) Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, John Hodgman, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, Ian McShane, Keith David.
Director: Henry Selick
Screenplay: Henry Selick (screenplay), Neil Gaiman (novel)
Genre: Animation, Family, Adventure, Fantasy
Rated: PG Menacing themes and scary scenes
Running Time: 101 Minutes

Be Careful What You Wish For

Synopsis:
A young girl walks through a secret door in her new home and discovers an alternative version of her life - a better version. But when this wondrously off-kilter fantastical adventure turns dangerous and her 'other' parents try to keep her forever, Coraline must count on her resourcefulness, determination and bravery to get back home.

My Verdict:
Coraline (Dakota Fanning) and her parents (Teri Hatcher, John Hodgman) move into the Pink Palace apartments, whose other occupants include the eccentric dog-loving British actresses Miss Spink and Miss Forcible (Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French) and the equally eccentric Russian Mr Bobinsky (Ian McShane). As an only child Coraline soon becomes bored and feeling left out as her garden guru parents continuously fob her off, she explores the house and its surroundings. She meets a wiry cat and a local boy Wybie Lovat who surreptitiously tries to befriend Coraline and when this fails he arrives at her door with a peace offering - a doll that uncannily resembles Coraline with alluring button eyes, which she reluctantly accepts. Coraline discovers a secret door in the house and enters to discover an "other" world that resembles her present life, but seems better. Or is it? Coraline soon discovers all is not as it first appeared and must race against time to save her parents.

There have been numerous stories told of young girls lead into fantasy worlds as their 'real' world lets them down, Alice In Wonderland being a classic example, and Coraline follows this path but it is the fresh and monotonously time-consuming approach of using stop-animation that sets Coraline apart. Some of the settings are delightfully clever with witty dialogue including a stage production from Miss Spink and Miss Forcible and their vast audience of dogs as well as a magical garden tended by Coraline's 'other' father.

All the voices for the characters have been chosen well with Teri Hatcher being able to really sink her teeth in the dual mother roles with relish, especially the 'other' mother who ultimately becomes decidedly evil and this character may be the one that produces nightmares later for young viewers - she is downright scary! The accompanying soundtrack is reminiscent of the Henry Selick directed The Nightmare Before Christmas and perfectly charming and eerily spooky at the same time.

Seeing Coraline in 3D is an absolutely magical experience (notwithstanding possible eye-strain!). The depth of the images is extraordinary and there are a few moments where the action appears almost reachable, seemingly inches from your face and producing a few welcome scares too - again, possibly too much for very young viewers. Visually this is a treat just for the colourful and the sometimes-monochromatic 3D effects and well worth the trouble of seeking out a screening specifically with this feature. Coraline is fun, heartening, scary, awe inspiring and just so wonderfully innovative that you can't help but believe that Coraline really does exist.

Rating : **** ½

Christina Bruce