Movie Review: Big Hero 6

Big Hero 6/Walt Disney Animation/Rated PG/Dir. by Don Hall and Chris Williams/108 min.

I have written before about Disney animation's identity crisis.  During the 90's, you knew exactly what you were getting in a Disney film:  A brightly animated musical with a song score destined for Oscar-gold and inclusion in every family's c.d. collection.  However, the computer animated success of Pixar and DreamWorks made Disney question itself and we got a series of films that reflected the desire to change.  Some were successful (the utterly delightful Lilo and Stitch), some were not (Home on the Range and Chicken Little anyone?).  Now that John Lasseter is in charge of Disney animation, there still isn't a clear definition of what a "Disney" animated film is, but this is actually a good thing.  There's no formula other than strong writing and beautiful visuals.  The studio hasn't released a less than great film in quite a while and their latest, Big Hero 6, continues their winning streak.  Sharp, hilarious, and introducing the most instantly lovable Disney character in over a decade, this is just what the doctor ordered, regardless of whether you're seeing it with kids.  Child or adult, this is a film to be thoroughly enjoyed.

Very loosely based on the Marvel comic of the same name, Big Hero 6 centers around Hiro (voiced by Ryan Potter), a brilliant 14-year old who is having a difficult time finding his place in the world.  His problems are only amplified after a disaster leaves him mourning his older brother and mentor.  However, when he accidentally activates his brother's invention, a huggable health-care robot named Baymax (delightfully voiced by 30 Rock's Scott Adsit), he is set on a path to stop a villain and solve the mystery of the circumstances surrounding his brother's death.

Of course, the movie is not called "Big Hero 2", so his brother's school friends are brought in to help him out, each with their own distinct personalities and quirks.  Once the titular team is assembled, they set out to stop a mysterious man who has stolen Hiro's revolutionary science project for an unknown purpose.

As I mentioned previously, Big Hero 6 gives us one of the most memorable characters ever in a Disney film in the form of Baymax.  With a warm and simple character design and a fantastic vocal performance by Adsit, Baymax is at the center of almost every hilarious joke and emotional hit.  Not since Stitch has Disney delivered a character so unique.  There will be many Baymax toys under Christmas trees this year (including, hopefully, mine.  wink, wink).

There's not much more to say other than Big Hero 6 is an utter joy from beginning to end, including the wonderful short called Feast that precedes it.  The stereotypical "Disney" film may be a thing of the past, but with a string of hits including Tangled, Wreck-It Ralph, Frozen, and now, Big Hero 6, who cares.

Grade: A