BIG HERO 6

Reviewed by Patrick Gibbs



GRADE: A +
Featuring the voices of Ryan Potter, Scott Adsit, James Cromwell, Jamie Chung, Daniel Henney, T.J. Miller, Genesis Rodriguez, Daman Wayan,s Jr. and Alan Tudyk
Directed by Don Hall and Chris Williams
Rated PG (action and peril, mild rude humor)

Disney Animation studios is on on fire.

The once fledgling afterthought that got started with the meager Chicken Little and stood in the shadow of PIXAR has not only stepped out of that iconic shadow, but after last Wreck It Ralph and Frozen, it's making PIXAR have to work to keep up. The newest offering from the house of mouse is the first genuine Disney movie based on a MARVEL property, Big Hero 6, and it is almost exactl the movie that The Amazing Spider-Man 2 failed to be in ever way.

Set in the fictional Metropolis of "San Fransokyo: (which is just what it sounds like), our story center around a young robotics prodigy named Hiro Hamata. Having graduated High School at 14, Hiro is content to spend his time hustling the rich in underground "Bot Fights," but his older brother Tadashi  (whom you will look at more than once and ask "is that Matt Dillion? But he looks so young" until the person you came to the movie with points out that it's a cartoon, dumbass), wants something better for Hiro. Tadashi is something of an electronics genius himself, and he introduces Hiro to The San Fransokyo Insitute of Technology, a spectacular nerd school run by an icon in the field, Professor Callaghan (voiced by James Cromwell.). Hiro also gets into a new social with Tadashi misfit friends. But most importantly, Tadashi introduces his little brother to Baymax, an inflatable robot built by the elder Hamata brother to serve as a "healthcare companion."

But when Tadashi .and Callghan are killed in a mysterious explosion, Hiro is on his own. That is, until he accidentally activates Baymax, who sees Hiro as his patient.  Hiro is completely disinterested, until some snooping leads him to believe that there is more to Tadashi's death than meets the eye, and that someone is using an invention of Hiro's to commit evil deeds.

Hiro programs Baymax to learn Karate, and outfits him with high tech armor, and enlists the aid of his new friends in his quest for truth and justice.

Visually splendid and full of heart, Big Hero 6 is an utter delight from start to finish. Baymax (voiced by Scott Adsit of 30 Rock fame) is one of the most endearing characters to hit the big screen in years, and the relationship between the boy and the bot is charming, fun and touching.  The movie is packed with action but very low on violence, and the sense of humor is much more sophisticated than the trailers indicate (looking back at the trailers for The Incredibles, Disney has a knack for dumbing down it's advertising.). As much as it should feel tired and annoying for this story to turn into yet another superhero adventure when Hollywood is so overpacked with them, it is such a good one (and a unique one) that it's cause for celebration rather than eye rolling.

Big Hero 6 is that proverbial "fun for the whole family" movie that will leave laughing, crying, blah blah blah yadda yadda yadda. You get the idea, but I'm telling you, it really is that good.

The movie is suitable for most ages, but does feature enough intensity and strong emotion that it maybe not be right for some kids 4 and under (you know your kid better than I do, hopefully: you be the judge.).