For years studios like Disney, Pixar and Dreamworks have ruled the animated movie space with countless cultural hits. While the occasional lesser-known studio produces a gem, Blue Sky Studios fails to bring the same magic to their film that other studios have done time and time again.
Epic had potential to create another world full of lovable characters, a intriguing and entertaining story and more, but ultimately fails in delivering these aspects. Now for younger aged viewers, they will most likely eat it up, but this is not a review based on "but it's a kids movie". I'm not reviewing this movie for a child's view, but of my own and I will point out strengths and faults just like any other film.
So, where to begin? Well I'll start with one of the largest reasons Epic falters. Look at every successful animated film. What makes you love them the most? Obviously the characters, because the vast majority of animated films aren't too concerned with deep and confusing plots. In order to succeed in this movie space, you need a cast of memorable and endearing characters and Epic fails shockingly short in this aspect. Not once did I ever feel a liking for any character in the movie. They lacked that charm and the real human elements of emotion that you find in other popular characters. The main reason for this? Not one voice actor playing these animated characters fits their respective role, and some performances, like Beyonce Knowles and Colin Farrell among others, totally fail to deliver any sense of interest in their character. Boring dialogue, lack of emotion and overall sloppy acting leaves the characters in Epic uninteresting and unlikable.
Like most other animated films, Epic does deliver a pretty visually engaging movie, but this will largely be apparent for younger viewers. As an older viewer, the setting and plot are disappointing to say the least. The story goes for a "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" kind of direction while the atmosphere, even if very small, does't evoke any true sense of awe or excitement. In the long run, this hurts the film by not having a unique and fun setting fall back on.
Epic does have its moments, even if they are rare. A couple of times I gave a chuckle or was interested in the story and atmosphere, but too often was I left feeling cut off from the movie as a whole, it never pulled me in to enjoy what was being presented.
Epic falls short in creating almost every aspect of a successful and entertaining animated film. A dull, boring and uninteresting cast of characters lead by poor voice work, mostly unexciting setting, generic story and a lack of overall charm leaves Epic on the short end of the stick compared with other major animated films. Kids might enjoy more than most, but to me, Epic is a movie that had potential, but fails to live up to its own name.
4.5/10
Epic had potential to create another world full of lovable characters, a intriguing and entertaining story and more, but ultimately fails in delivering these aspects. Now for younger aged viewers, they will most likely eat it up, but this is not a review based on "but it's a kids movie". I'm not reviewing this movie for a child's view, but of my own and I will point out strengths and faults just like any other film.
So, where to begin? Well I'll start with one of the largest reasons Epic falters. Look at every successful animated film. What makes you love them the most? Obviously the characters, because the vast majority of animated films aren't too concerned with deep and confusing plots. In order to succeed in this movie space, you need a cast of memorable and endearing characters and Epic fails shockingly short in this aspect. Not once did I ever feel a liking for any character in the movie. They lacked that charm and the real human elements of emotion that you find in other popular characters. The main reason for this? Not one voice actor playing these animated characters fits their respective role, and some performances, like Beyonce Knowles and Colin Farrell among others, totally fail to deliver any sense of interest in their character. Boring dialogue, lack of emotion and overall sloppy acting leaves the characters in Epic uninteresting and unlikable.
Like most other animated films, Epic does deliver a pretty visually engaging movie, but this will largely be apparent for younger viewers. As an older viewer, the setting and plot are disappointing to say the least. The story goes for a "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" kind of direction while the atmosphere, even if very small, does't evoke any true sense of awe or excitement. In the long run, this hurts the film by not having a unique and fun setting fall back on.
Epic does have its moments, even if they are rare. A couple of times I gave a chuckle or was interested in the story and atmosphere, but too often was I left feeling cut off from the movie as a whole, it never pulled me in to enjoy what was being presented.
Epic falls short in creating almost every aspect of a successful and entertaining animated film. A dull, boring and uninteresting cast of characters lead by poor voice work, mostly unexciting setting, generic story and a lack of overall charm leaves Epic on the short end of the stick compared with other major animated films. Kids might enjoy more than most, but to me, Epic is a movie that had potential, but fails to live up to its own name.
4.5/10