Movie Review – Paranorman

The kids go back to school this week so last week I wanted to do something special with them. All three kids wanted to see Paranorman, so although that was not my first choice I was outvoted and took them to see it. 

Paranorman is an animated movie about a little boy named Norman who can see, hear and talk to dead people, and dead animals as well.  Of course nobody in his family believes him and the other kids at school think he is an odd ball and make fun of him. 

Apparently the skill of seeing dead people is a hereditary thing and Norman’s ucle who has been cast out of the family had the abiltiy as well.  He tells Norman that he is dying and before he goes he needs Norman to know tha he is the only one that can stop a witch from coming out of the grave and raising the dead.  According tothe uncle Norman will need to go to the cemetary and read a certain book in order to stop the witch from raising the dead.  Of course nothing is ever as easy as it seems and soon zombies arae walking around town.  Now Norman must find a way to stop them and the witch.  Of course there is a big twist to the movie that I can not reveal.

The movie is written and directed by Chris Butler and co directed by Sam Fell.  The voice of Norman is done by Codi Smit-McPhee.  The most notable and recognizble voice in the movie is voiced by John Goodman who does the voice for the uncle. 

Paranorman was actually a lot better than I expected it to be.  It is an action comedy movie and for a kids movie was pretty exciting, but it still had a very sweet undertone to it.  There are also some really funny moments in the movie.  There are also some adult overtones that little kids won’t pick up on but parents will find funny, and one line that some parents really did not appreciate very much but was quite funny to others, you will have to see the movie to find out what that is. 

Paranorman is a fun movie for the whole family.  It did have some scary moments that scared my 8 year old a little bit, but then they were followed by something funny so then he was fine.  So it is not all laughs and giggles, but it is still a rather fun movie.  You won’t be bored watching Paranorman.