‘The Boxtrolls’ Review: Stop-Motion Crafted Thinking Out of the Box By Carlos Aguilar. Following up two outstanding animated gems, the visionary team at Laika returns with a stop-motion period piece that is as sophisticatedly written as it is miraculously crafted. Their ability to continuously reinvigorate such a laborious technique is unparalleled. With every film they venture into unconventional stories, told with even more original esthetics. Now directors Graham Annable and Anthony Stacchi bring to the screen a story about an ostracized group of creatures, a fascinating villain, and a boy building a family from what everyone else considers useless. Yet, for all the big and powerful concepts weaved into this visually astonishing work, our short, bluish, quirky-looking, garbage-loving, cardboard-dwelling friends also deliver warm humor throughout. Eggs is a boy raised not by wolves, but by Boxtrolls who live beneath the fictional and quasi-European city of Cheesebrisge. He identifies himself as one of them and has no ties to the outside world. His closest friend is Fish, which also serves as a makeshift father figure for the abandoned kid. He enjoys crafting peculiar objects out of discarded rubble or eating colorful juicy bugs for dinner. In his mind the Boxtroll way of life is the way to go. Curiously, every member of this family gets its name from whatever the contents were in the box each wears as clothing/shell. Such an efficient system in their peaceful society is definitely part of the fun. But as with all good things, there is always someone trying to destroy what is seemingly perfect. Here, Archibald Snatcher, voiced by the marvelous Sir Ben Kingsley, is the deranged source of evil. A tall and overweight man whose looks have seen better days, Snatcher wants to earn his place among Cheesebridge’s decision makers. The symbol of power he is after is a white top hat that will grant him access to taste the most decadent cheeses with the most important men in town. To him, the fact he is highly allergic to lactose is merely a petty hurdle, his sole purpose in life is to mean something, to be somebody. Snatcher’s road to success has been long, back when Eggs was only a baby he made a deal with Lord Portley-Rind, the major. If he was able to rid the city of Boxtrolls, then he would be accepted into the White Hats. Just to make sure he fits in, the unkempt and maniacal madman likes to utter “big words” in every sentence. Surely, there is no better way of asserting one’s status than using elegant phrases in comedic situations. When his beloved companions start getting captured one by one, Eggs decides that it is time to fight those in the human world. Winnie, Lord Portley-Rind’s spunky young daughter, is fascinated by the gory and spooky legends told about these creatures. She is certainly joyful when she gets a chance to be close to them by befriending Eggs. Unfortunately, she points out how different from them he is. While going through this identity crisis and figuring out what Winnie’s intentions are, Eggs needs to plan how to save his friends from Snatcher and his band of red-hat-wearing bad guys, who actually believe they are the good guys. Hilarious. It’s impossible to find a moment in the film that is not fueled by relentless creativity. Layered with subtle nuances about what it means to be part of a group of people considered inferior by society. It hints at frightening topics such as genocide and class issues without being preachy or losing its delightful fantastic appeal. Laika’s craftsmanship is awe-inspiring. Each time-consuming detail is infused with gorgeous physicality, something that other modern technique will never be able to provide. It is all a bit imperfect, a bit flawed, and for that all the more unforgettable. Not only do these animation masters dare to go where few do, regarding the topics in their films, but they utilize mesmerizingly beautiful figures, sets, lights, and voice acting to deliver something that is charming due to its mechanics and endearing because of the non-traditional story. Snatcher’s fate is tragic but innovative, Eggs and Fish relationship is a top-notch work of heartwarming magic, Winnie adds a bit of attitude to the damseliin-distress archetype, and it is all coated in the singular atmosphere that Laika has perfected by now. Watch it once, watch it twice, and watch it many more, because a film as special at this, from a truly independent American studio, comes only once in a Boxtroll-bluish moon. “The Boxtrolls” is now playing in theaters nationwide.
