Big Hero 6 ***½ (out of 5) (PG) This animated sci-fi comic adventure is a lot more fun and energetic that Frozen, but probably will not bring in anywhere near the huge box office of last year’s hit. It’s smarter and more socially hip, and that rarely outdraws princesses and Oscar-level songs, however derivative they may be. C’mon. Didn’t Let It Go and First Time in Forever sound a whole lot like a handful of ballads you’ve heard in previous Disney features? And don’t worry about the titular number 6, either. You haven’t already missed five earlier episodes.
This clash between good and evil features a brilliant young inventor who continues his brother’s work after a tragic event to save the day. His main asset is a gentle giant in the form of a fluffy white robot, built for medical and protective purposes, but adaptable to more arduous tasks in an emergency. One promptly arises. The plucky lad is joined by a few other young whizzes, who chip in with their own creations to form an ad hoc Marvel Comics’ Shield-type protective force using super brains, rather than superpowers. How nice that none of them needed a genetic mutation, radioactive spider bite, etc. to become exceptional.
The result is a high-octane adventure that deftly balances comedy and character development with the Valuable Lessons such films must convey. Disney’s animation is first-rate, as one expects, serving up plenty of colorful action, establishing marketable protagonists (also as one expects), and generating welcome prospects for sequels, even if they confuse us by calling it BH 6 - 2. They’ve covered all essential artistic and financial bases in style, and deserve more trips to this well. (11/7/14)