The winning
combination of uber-visionary Tim Burton and the chameleonic Johnny
Depp (not to mention cinematographer and visual effects supervisor Pete
Kozachik and composer Danny Elfman) team up again, bringing us one of
the most anticipated and most visually entertaining films of the year.
The story is every single gal’s dream (well, almost every one - count
me out!) - and every man’s nightmare - proving that even in death you
still have a chance at marriage. (Perish the thought!)
Victor Van Dort is an accomplished
pianist. Born to privilege and shy by nature, Victor has always had a
hard time speaking his feelings, or anything for that matter, preferring
to let his music speak for him. Betrothed to the beautiful and well-bred
 Victoria
Everglot by way of a familial pre-arrangement, Victor, although happy
about the pending nuptials, has a case of nervous jitters. After three
plus hours of practice, he still can’t memorize his wedding vows.
Determined to learn his “I do’s” as easily as a Mozart concerto,
he wanders off into the nearby woods for a little quiet time so he can
practice. Adding some play acting to his memorization technique, Victor
finds a twig on ground that seems suitable for “ring practice.” As
he slips the ring on the “finger”, Victor realizes he has made a
terrible mistake. This was no twig. This was the bony finger of the
deceased Emily who is more than ecstatic to become Victor's "Corpse
Bride." Murdered on her own wedding day, Emily has been lying in
the woods becoming nothing more than a skeletal corpse.
As if Sleeping Beauty awakened from a
long sleep, Emily believes Victor is her Prince Charming, destined to be
together forever. Wasting no time in getting on with the honeymoon,
Emily whisks her groom off to the land of the dead where she plans
their happily ever after lives. (So this is what my wanna-be Corpse
Bride friend Kim did with her husband!) Victor, however, is less then
thrilled at the prospect of spending eternity with his Corpse Bride and
must devise a way to trick Emily into returning him to the land of the
living so he can reunite with Victoria. Completing the picture is a cast
of clever characters that will literally make your head spin with
delight.
No stranger to a Burton film, Johnny Depp
provides the voice of Victor. With a timidness and vocal affectation
similar to that he displayed as Edward Scissorhands, Depp brings the
bookish Victor to life, giving him an inner bravura  that
shines. Helena Bonham Carter is more than delightful as our Corpse Bride
Emily. Tinged with gaiety and merriment, her characterization of Emily
makes one think of fun every time you her voice. Emily Watson also turns
in a great performance capturing the grace and delicacy of Victoria that
is so complimentary to the bookish Victor. The real joy, however, lies
in the characterizations of the supporting cast. From Tracey Ullman to
Albert Finney to even, Danny Elfman, each gives depth and identity to
every one of Burton’s creations. However, without a doubt, I think
double kudos go to Enn Reitel. As the Emily’s mascot maggot, he does a
Peter Lorre that is to die for.
Twelve years since Burton brought us the
inspired stop-motion animation classic “The Nightmare Before Christmas”,
“Corpse Bride” has been a long time coming and arrives not a moment
too soon. Although Henry Selick directed “Nightmare”, the film
screamed Burton from start to finish. Under the direction of Burton, “Corpse
Bride” now rises to new levels of excellence, from claymation to
animation to imagination under Burton’s artistic hand. Paying homage
to master creator Ray Harryhausen (remember those golden oldies “Clash
of the Titans” and “Voyage of Sinbad”) The attention to animation
detail is mind-boggling, making the residents in the land of the dead
even more life-like than we are. From Emily’s fluttering veil to the
undulating skeleton of Victor’s deceased dog Scraps to individual
strands of hair wisping in the wind, the work screams Oscar. It’s
clear to see where the big bucks went in making this film. Interesting
is Burton’s desaturation of colors in the land of the living to an
almost black and white patina while the land of the dead has eye-popping
color at every turn.
The one shortcoming is the screenplay. A
charming premise, the writing team of John August, Pamela Pettler and
Caroline Thompson have a story that loses energy quickly, forcing the
film to rely solely on its technical excellence for success (which is
reason enough to see the film). Also problematic are the musical numbers
which seem “dropped in” rather than being made an integral part of
the story.
From its sleek, meticulously crafted
visuals to the enchanting simplicity of the characters and story, “Corpse
Bride” is a treat for the whole family. Now, if only someone would
come up with a “Corpse Groom.”
Johnny Depp: Victor Helena Bonham Carter:
Emily the Corpse Bride Emily Watson: Victoria
Directed by Tim Burton and Mike Johnson.
Written by John August, Pamela Pettler and Caroline Thompson. Rated PG.
(76 min)
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