Big Hero 6 Review

Who are two of the most bankable Hollywood studios right now? Walt Disney Animation and Marvel Studios (who, don't ya know it, is owned by Disney). Both studios release films each year that are always critically and financially successful. So what would happen if the two brands came together? What would it look like if a film had the gorgeous animation and lighthearted feel of Frozen or Wreck-It Ralph combined with the large scale action of The Avengers or Guardians of the Galaxy? That is what the latest animated hit, Big Hero 6, aims to show us. But is it successful in its task?

Based on the lesser-known and obscure Marvel comic, Big Hero 6 takes place in the futuristic, fictional city of San Fransokyo where we meet Hiro Hamada, a young teen with a big brain. Hiro loves to invent things, but he doesn't want to be a responsible "nerd" like his older brother, Tadashi. But that changes when Tadashi drags his younger brother along to visit his college, where Hiro becomes amazed at all the opportunities he could have if he went there (given his superior knowledge, he has already graduated high school at age 13).

Then, in typically Disney fashion, tragedy strikes and Tadashi is killed in an explosion at the college, sending Hiro into a state of anger and depression...until he meets Baymax. This loveable medical robot is the only part of his older brother that Hiro has left, and when the two discover a masked villain using one of Hiro's inventions to wreak havoc on the city, they must work together to find out who this mysterious person is, and how he can be stopped. But first...they need a team.

As I briefly hinted at above, the big problem with Big Hero 6  is that it is bound by typically plot devices that are very common in both Disney and Marvel films. Going into much detail would mean spoilers, but it is the same three-act structure that exists in pretty much every Marvel film, combined with the same messages and character models that make up Disney films. This means that the film is highly predictable, and so nothing should surprise the viewer. I remember predicting the identity of the bad guy near the very beginning of the film, and when I saw that I was right, I couldn't help but be a little disappointed.

However, the argument can be made, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Both the Disney and Marvel formulas have proven to be very successful in storytelling, and that success does carry over to Big Hero 6. Yes, it is a plot line we have seen before, but it is still very entertaining and fun to watch. And as usual for Disney, the greatest strength that bails this film out of being truly mediocre is the amount of heart that is packed into it. While the film may be much more action heavy than most other animated films in the past, it still never sacrifices character development and the story for explosions and fighting.

The heart of the film is Baymax, who has to be one of the most loveable animated characters I've ever seen. From the way he is drawn, to his sweet, reassuring words, chances are you will probably want to give the balloonish robot a big hug by the time the movie is over. And through his words the film finds its conscience. Throughout the film he is a mentor to a troubled Hiro, explaining to him the consequences and drawbacks to wanting revenge, and telling him why violence isn't the right response. He also is constantly reminding him of the importance of  with family and friends, especially in times of struggle and sadness. These kind of messages aren't really front and center in a Marvel superhero film (the one notable exception being this year's Guardians of the Galaxy, which  bears several other similarities to this film), and it is nice to see an action film take time to tackle these themes.

After watching this movie, I couldn't help but think of Pixar's The Incredibles, the only other animated super hero film that I can recall. Big Hero 6 might not come close to matching the greatness of that film, but then again, that's a really high bar to match. While the film may fall prey to some predictable story elements, it is still filled to the brim with heart, humor, and light-hearted adventure, and it is likely the best animated film that will be released this holiday season.