The Iron Giant

Herald Rating: * * * *

Cast: The voices of Jennifer Anniston, Harry Connick Jr

Director: Brad Bird

Rating: PG (medium-level violence)

Running Time: 86 minutes

Opens: Thursday, Village, Hoyts cinemas

Review: Russell Baillie


It may not have the whizz-bang factor in its animation like Disney's recent Toy Story 2 or Tarzan. But this, only the second Warner Bros full-length animated feature after the merchandise-pusher that was Space Jam, is a cartoon wonder.

Based on the children's story (The Iron Man) by Ted Hughes, it's a mythical tale of abundant thought-provoking themes - of friendship, trust and what if a seven-storey killing machine possessed a soul? - but still one where the kids should be enchanted just by the story of a boy and the metal colossus he befriends and tries to protect.

In the small town of Rockwell Maine, during the late-50s, young Hogarth rescues the seemingly gentle giant from electrocution in a power station and soon realises he must hide his discovery, initially from his harried solo mother (voiced by Anniston).

A wrecker's yard run by local beaktnik (Connick Jr), who has a sideline in scrap sculpture, comes in handy, especially considering the creature's rampant appetite for metal.

But the authorities, all Cold War paranoia and rampant militarism, are soon suspicious and a King Kong-sized showdown seems inevitable, especially as it's soon clear than the giant might not be as benign as he first seemed.

There's an engaging lyricism to the storytelling here, with the open-endedness of a classic fable crossed with a dash of Sputnik-era Hollywood monster movies and ready wit to the characters.

That comes delivered with animation that makes up for its lack of flash with subtlety and fluidity, especially in the expressions it achieves on the steely countenance of the mute big metal lug.

Yes, all up, The Iron Giant is plain riveting.