There is a certain nostalgia that comes from loving Disney films as an adult. Even if they are not the movies I watched as a kid, I still feel like one every time I see the whistling Mickey Mouse logo. When I learned that “Big Hero Six” was not only a Disney film, but based on a comic from the Marvel universe, I could not help but be interested.
“Big Hero 6” tells the story of Hiro Hamada, a young robotics genius who forms a superhero team with his nerdy friends. Together they fight against a villain who is using robotics technology to terrorize the city of San Fransokyo. Helping him fight are Wasabi No Ginger, an overly commonsensical lazers expert, Gogo Tomago, a high speed loving tough girl who specializes in magnetics, Honey Lemon, a fashion forward chemistry savant, Fred, the comic book reading school mascot, and Baymax, a medical robot built by Hiro’s brother.
The film did not disappoint. With its dazzlingly animated set and soundtrack that alternated between being upbeat and epic, it is not surprising that it won an Oscar for Best Animated Film over the weekend. I was most impressed by the diversity of characters, not only in backgrounds, but also in personalities. Where most films with ensemble casts have a tendency to reduce their characters to tropes, “Big Hero 6” allowed each of its characters moments of depth. Those characters and their believability were what provided the film with a balance between humor and its more heavy themes of grief and healing.
That being said, in order to really enjoy this film, it’s better if you don’t think too hard about it. There were several large plot holes that made me keep rewatching the film to see if they were ever explained… and they were not. Along with that, some of the expository dialogue was heavy handed.
Though it had its flaws, “Big Hero 6” was a cute and entertaining film that I cannot stop watching over and over again. I recommend it for anyone who loves superhero flicks and does not mind tearjerkers. Also, when you watch, remember that this is a Marvel film too, you are going to want to stay until the credits are done.