Big Hero 6 review (movie review #1)

Having finally seen Big Hero 6 after weeks of anticipation, all I have to say is: What a movie! Disney has made yet another animated masterpiece that has the right combination of heart, comedy, and action, which satisfied most, if not all, of my expectations that I excitedly carried into the theater.  

Story wise, Big Hero 6 tells the tale of Hiro Hamada, a 14-year-old robotics prodigy (voiced impressively by Ryan Potter) whose best friend happens to be Baymax (amazingly brought to life by Scott Adsit), a healthcare robot created by Hiro’s deceased older brother, Tadashi. When the duo discovers a mysterious masked supervillain with diabolical purposes, it’s up to Hiro and Baymax (along with a group of Hiro’s close friends) to put a stop to the malevolent villain’s schemes. The subplot in the first third of the movie revolving around the relationship between Tadashi and Hiro is quite interesting and seems very legitimate. While the directors (Don Hall and Chris Williams) could have easily taken the Dexter’s Laboratory route and made the relationship of Hiro and Tadashi one of sibling rivalry, Hall and Williams create a very realistic sibling relationship, in that while Hiro and Tadashi may not see eye to eye on certain issues (for example, Tadashi’s disapproval of Hiro’s participation in underground robot fights), the film nonetheless makes it clear that they deeply care for one another, as Hiro is utterly devastated when Tadashi is killed in a fire (albeit offscreen) and falls into a deep depression after this tragic event. In addition to this well-thought, well-written storyline, the major subplot of the bond that forms between Hiro and Baymax is very touching, as we witness great development in both characters. In the case of Baymax, we see this extremely lovable robot develop a unique personality because of his activities with Hiro (for example learning how to do the fist-bump as well as learning the difference between literal language and vocal expressions). Hiro, on the other hand, undergoes character development through his accepting of Baymax being far more than an inflatable tool, which leads to the creation of the extremely close bond that develops between both Baymax and Hiro.  

Now, for the other characters: Hiro’s group of friends that make up the rest of the titular superhero team (Fred, Honey Lemon, GoGo Tomago and Wasabi), while not given as much depth or screen time as Hiro, Baymax, and Tadashi, each have their moments to shine. For example, adrenaline junkie GoGo (voiced by Jamie Chung) drives like a total boss (albeit quite recklessly) in the scene where our heroes are escaping the villainous Yokai, much to the chagrin of the neat-freak Wasabi (voiced by Damon Waynes Jr.). In addition to this, comic fanboy Fred (brought to incredible life by comedian TJ Miller) also has some quite entertaining moments throughout the movie, especially in the post-credits scene when he discovers his father’s hidden superhero base in the family mansion moments before happily reuniting with said father (who has the likeness of and is voiced by the iconic Stan Lee).  

 

When it comes to humor, Big Hero 6 delivers. There were several points throughout the movie where I found myself laughing my head off at the well-thought and well-written jokes the creators placed throughout the film. One example of such comical, family-friendly moments in the movie is when Baymax, being an inflatable robot, suddenly starts leaking air out of his arm, but ends up requiring tape to stop all the air from escaping his arm! This subtle (in that it isn't extremely obnoxious compared to the humor found in other animated features) type of humor is one of the many great aspects of this delightful Disney film, and I would hardly have it any other way!

 

 Action sequences and animation, on the other hand, are a whole new ball game, as Disney excels in giving us, as an audience, a combination of the action we’ve come to love from Marvel movies and the spectacular animation of some of Disney’s more recent films (for example, Wreck-it Ralph and Frozen) in a true match made in heaven. Being based on a Marvel comic, Big Hero 6 has more than its fair share of action, from a car chase along the back roads of San Fransokyo, a training montage accompanied by the band Fall Out Boy’s Immortals, an island battle between our heroes and the malignant Yokai, to a final battle in which the titular superhero team comes out on top, but at a great cost. The animation, though typical for Disney at this point, is amazing, as you can see that the animators put painstaking effort into bringing the film’s characters, as well as the city of San Fransokyo, to incredible life. This effort that Disney put into making Big Hero 6 visually appealing is made clear in the scene where Hiro and Baymax rest on a hot-air balloon after the pair’s first flight throughout San Fransokyo (arguably a reference to the titular character’s first flight in Iron Man (2008)), as shown below:

The animation put into the clouds in this scene is something to behold and adds to the beauty of the whole scene. 

The cast of this Disney masterwork is also quite impressive, with Ryan Potter bringing admirable talent to the table as Hiro Hamada, while the same can be said for Scott Adsit as Baymax, as he gives a remarkable performance as the inflatable robot with a true heart of gold. In addition, Daniel Hanney did a commendable job bringing Tadashi Hamada to life, as Hanney infuses his character with the caring and selfless personality seen in Tadashi throughout his screen time in the movie. TJ Miller also brings much to the table as Fred, bringing life to his character's many comedic moments spread throughout the film. On another note, Genesis Rodriguez, Jamie Chung, and Damon Waynes Jr. all leave their mark bringing Honey Lemon, GoGo, and Wasabi (respectively) to life. 

The composer behind the music of Big Hero 6 is Henry Jackman, and he crafts a noteworthy score for the film, combining the excitement of superhero movie music with the heart of some of Disney’s most notable musical scores. In addition to Jackman, the band known as Fall Out Boy contributed a new song, titled Immortals, which plays during a training montage involving the six main characters, as well as during the movie’s credits. While the lyrics of Immortals are memorable, it’s the background music that plays throughout the song that really stands out, as it perfectly combines aspect of the music found in Asian culture with that of Western culture, creating a beat that sounds straight out of a song made in San Fransokyo (the city the movie takes place in).

To conclude, Big Hero 6 is another modern Disney classic that will remain one of my favorite animated films for a long time to come. I highly recommend it to anyone who’s interested in family-friendly superhero entertainment, whether the viewers be young or old! If you’re already making plans to see this amazing work of genius, get ready to fly high with Hiro and Baymax!