Corpse Bride

by

debbie lynn elias

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)