Reviewed: Big Hero 6 (PG) In cinemas January 30, 2015

Starring voice talents of: Ryan Potter, Scott Adsit, T.J. Miller, Jamie Chung, Maya Rudolph, Genesis Rodriguez, Alan Tudyk, James Cromwell, Damon Wayans Jr. Daniel Henney

If you’ve never heard of Big Hero 6 until now, I can tell you that this movie is currently number one at in the US box office. The film has leap-frogged the new Sci-Fi drama Interstellar by generating over $56 million on its opening weekend.

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At the heart of the film is a charming and loveable character called Baymax. You should remember that name as you’re going to hear it a lot in 2015. In fact if Big Hero 6 had been released a few months earlier, parents would be fighting each other in Toys R Us to get the action figure and other merchandise for their little darlings.

Inspired by a 1990’s little known Marvel Comic of the same name, Big Hero 6 is a non-stop action packed comedy adventure. The story is set in an alternative world in the city of San Fransokyo complete with hilly streets with cable cars and a rust coloured suspension bridge. Our protagonist is a teenager called Hiro Hamada (Ryan Potter) who is a robotics whizz-kid but prefers to use his skills for entering his creations in illegal back street ‘Bot Fights’ to hustle opponent’s out of their money. Hiro’s older and wiser brother Tadashi (Daniel Henney) is studying at a school for young gifted prodigies (or Nerd school as Hiro calls it). In an attempt to keep Hiro on the straight and narrow his brother introduces him to his fellow nerdy colleagues, adrenaline junkie Go Go Tomago (Jamie Chung), precision freak Neatnik Wasabi (Damon Wayans Jr.), chemistry genius Honey Lemon (Genesis Rodriguez) and Fanboy Fred (T.J. Miller.) Hiro is seduced by the fantastic work that that is being performed at the school by the young inventors and wants to enrol as a new student but has to convince the renowned college professor Robert Callaghan (James Cromwell) by presenting one of his own inventions with the hope of being granted entry.

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Tadashi also unveils his latest creation to Hiro. An inflatable white marshmellowy robot called Baymax (Scott Adsit), specially designed as a healthcare practitioner to diagnose and treat all manner of injuries and sickness, even the mental kind. It’s not long before the story takes us in another direction involving a family tragedy and a mysterious masked villain who has stolen one of Hiro’s robotic inventions for his own evil gains.

It’s from this point that the second act of the film turns into a Manga style superhero adventure as Hiro gives his new nerdy friends upgrades on their special abilities complete with cool outfits. None more so that the previously gentle and caring robot Baymax now reprogrammed with karate skills and a jet pack.

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This is Disney at their very best. Big Hero 6 is produced by the team that gave the public such successful films as Tangled (2010), Wreck-It Ralph (2012) and the brilliant Frozen (2013). I think the writing here surpasses many of the most recent Disney movies, it certainly has something for everyone. One thing that Disney have been very good at is making you laugh out loud one moment (as I did on many occasion throughout the screening) and then tugs at your heart strings with some very emotional scenes. The animation is some of the best I’ve seen for long time showing extremely realistic motion especially in some of the crown scenes in San Fransokyo, giving a live action feel to the imagery. The film is obviously a product of the Japanese comic book influence and it seems to make it all the more interesting and colourful, even the villains disguise is a kabuki mask. Also the World Premier was held at the Tokyo Film Festival.

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However, the film also includes a few messages which is not unusual for Disney with subjects such as the importance of teamwork, being a good role model and  “With great power comes great…” well you know how it goes? And learning that thou shalt not kill!

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But the best thing about Big Hero 6 is the wonderful Baymax. Comedian and actor Scott Adsit really brings the character to life. Baymax has this wonderful innocence and childlike quality coupled with an awkward clumsiness due to his blobby shape. There’s a funny moment when Baymax’s battery starts to run down and he goes a bit tipsy and poor Hiro has to smuggle this balloon robot in a drunken state back into his Aunt’s house unnoticed.

I absolutely loved this film. I haven’t laughed so much in a long time but also watch out for that darn cinema dust…it can get in your eyes sometimes!

A huge Foker On Film five out of five stars.

In cinemas January 30, 2015...Mark my words, you'll all be talking about this film in the New Year.
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