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By Carrie Stemke · September 29, 2014
Paranorman is one of those great “pleasant surprises:” when you turn it on, you’re not sure what to expect, but in the end, you’re really glad you chose that film. And, the movie has great messages about individuality and about acceptance, which both kids and adults can relate to.
Paranorman is a stop-motion animated horror comedy about a kid named Norman who’s a little…different: he can see the dead and talk to them. Norman lives in a small town that reminds me strongly of Salem, Massachusetts (especially because of the witch theme), and he constantly struggles with dealing with his special abilities and being accepted by his peers, which don’t go very well together. Norman is called to save the town around Halloween, when his uncle, who shares his powers, reveals to him that the town suffers from a witch’s curse, and Norman is the only one who can stop it. It’s a fun, engaging plotline that will keep you entertained until the end. For me, Paranorman was a winner because not only did it involve zombies (have I mentioned how much I love zombies), but it also kept it light the whole time. The movie never really gets too serious or intense. There are plenty of jokes and funny characters, like Norman and his friend Neil’s blockheaded brother and sister or Norman’s bickering parents, who keep the audience laughing. The writers of Paranorman show off their knack for quick wit, and it comes across well in the script, which is breezily written.
The animation in Paranorman is impressive, particularly the scenes in which the witch’s curse starts to affect the town. The fall colors and horror movie monsters make this film perfect for a Halloween/October movie night. And, as I mentioned, there are positive messages that can be found within the film: even though Norman is different from the other kids, and even though he’s frustrated by others’ lack of acceptance of him, he still goes out of his way to save his town without getting into some giant rant about how much everyone (including members of his own family) has made him feel like an outsider over the years. And, although he doesn’t go out of his way to use his abilities in front of others, he still accepts himself and refuses to be scared of what he can do, which allows him to remain close to his grandmother, even after she passes away. And, to its credit, Paranorman keeps itself open to a wide audience and ably plants a foot in both the “for children” and “for adults” genres. It touches on subjects like bullying and death in ways that everyone can understand and relate to, a rare quality in a film. Overall, Norman is a likeable, brave kid with a good attitude, which can make him fun to watch for everyone, even if you’re not into positive life messages and just want to watch a great animated movie.