Sam Rockwell lends his voice to the detective who gets entangled with Scarlett Johansson’s mysterious woman in this generous and exquisitely crafted fantasy spectacle.
Brad Bird, akin to a Spielberg in the realm of animation, brings his accomplished directorial skill to a wonderful family movie, rescuing the genre from the monotony of uninspired, AI-driven narratives and imagery. This animated feature is clever, witty, and compassionate: a fantasy showpiece that embraces traditional entertainment charm, paired with breathtaking urban designs that highlight an endearing and tender romance.
The story unfolds in a city of wonders in a future era, a retro-futuristic metropolis echoing elements of Metropolis and Blade Runner. While it features the usual moving walkways, flying cars, and eerie holographic billboards, a lighthearted approach reinjects enjoyment into what might otherwise feel like tired conventions. This is where a classic noir thriller plays out, starring tough private eyes and villains armed with cutting-edge laser-particle weapons (which explains the film’s title, though I had hoped for a nod to 1980s Republican politics as well). We encounter weary cops, cynical nightclub owners, and alluring, shadowy women reminiscent of Lana Turner and Veronica Lake. The airborne vehicles boast the rounded shapes of a bygone era, and TV screens display black-and-white images; plasma flatscreens seem to have been uninvented.
