It’s not every day that we get a post-apocalyptic, steampunk movie made by an Oscar-nominated director and produced by two visionary filmmakers – Tim Burton and Timur Bekmambetov (Night Watch, Wanted). Just the thought of it conjures up images of a strange, dark world filled with incredible action and a touch of sardonic humour. Unfortunately 9 isn’t quite that movie. What we get instead is an animation that is too grown-up for kids, and too childish for adults, which is a real shame because there was definitely potential there for something special, especially given how moody the short upon which it is based was. This is similar to what happened to District 9, a great short film that was overstretched, leaving large plot holes.
9 is CGI animation about a rag doll that comes to life to discover that all the humans have been destroyed and it is now run by machines (a la The Matrix). Clearly writer-director Shane Acker wanted to use the same technique as his original short, but with Tim Burton’s record of creating quirky and original stop-motion animation, such as The Corpse Bride, they really missed a trick, particularly as the rag dolls, which are the central characters, are the weakest part. The world they inhabit and the machinery in it looks great as CGI, but the textures of the rag dolls are flat and unconvincing, as is much of the storytelling. From the outset it is clear that doll number 9 is going to save the day and win the girl, but what isn’t clear is why the rag dolls are the only remaining vestiges of humanity and what there purpose is in the future of the planet. There are some feeble attempts at morality and spirituality but they will go over the heads of the younger viewers, or simply scare them.
In school reports teachers always right on the reports of the talented kids with a propensity of slacking, “could try harder”, but in this case maybe the director shouldn’t have tried so hard to please a wide audience, because he has made something that doesn’t really appeal to anyone. This seems such a waste, and all the ifs and maybes aren’t going to improve what could have been a great kids’ story, or a dark adult tale with substance.
9 is in cinemas now.