Igor (2008)
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 "IGOR!" (Dr Glickenstien)
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Igor is a 2008 French-American computer animated horror comedy directed by Tony Leondis and written by Chris McKenna.
Plot
Lab assistant Igor (John Cusack) dreams of becoming a mad scientist like his master, Dr. Glickenstein. When the doctor runs afoul of his own invention, Igor seizes the chance. With the help of his friends Scamper (Steve Buscemi) and Brain (Sean Hayes), Igor plans to win the kingdom's annual science fair by building the most-evil monster ever. The problem is that Eva (Molly Shannon), as the monster is called, is sweeter than sugar and would rather be an actress.
Why It Makes You Shout "IGOR!" (But In A Terrible Way)
- The film can't seem to get its demographic right, as it can't decide if it wants to be dark or lighthearted.
- The film is way too dark and inappropriate for younger audiences, here are points that’ll make you question why and how this is a kids movie:
- The film contains way too many death scenes where characters often get killed. Among of them include:
- Scamper, an immortal rabbit, trying to kill himself and dying in various occasions. In other words, he wants to commit suicide in a kids movie!
- The worst deaths are of these characters:
- Dr. Glickenstein's death is a explosion of his failed rocket ship (revealing he's a robot because of his arm).
- King Malbert's death is by getting crushed by the weather ray.
- Several women are seen with extremely low cut dresses, including "they're going to pop out" styles.
- The relationship between Dr. Schadenfreude and Jacyln, one scene between them where Jacyln calls him daddy seductively. Woah, there!
- Igor and two of his friends get caught on a conveyor belt that slowly takes them toward an incinerator. They luckily escape unharmed.
- The film contains way too many death scenes where characters often get killed. Among of them include:
- Average yet weird character designs.
- Some noticeable animation errors.
- Scenes are noticeably reused, such as the opening and ending of the Evil Science Fair.
- Some unlikable and clichéd characters. The brain is a pointless comic relief character who's a simpleton, Glickenstein is a clichéd incompetent scientist, Dr. Schadenfreude is a clichéd faker who takes credit for other inventions, Jacyln is a chlicéd mean/valley girl, and King Malbert is a very fat, short man and the huge unlikable antagonist.
- The animation, while not bad, is somewhat mediocre.
- It tries to parody Frankenstein but fails.
- Stale and inappropriate jokes, such as the running gag of a suicidal Scamper trying to kill himself.
- All of the Igors in the movie are tormented and abused throughout the movie. the most abused Igor is Schadenfreude's Igor.
- Plot holes:
- Why do all Igors have to be named Igor? This is just utterly lazy naming!
- How was Eva the first time someone has created some life? During the climax of the film we see that at least two other scientists have created living inventions, like the giant plant monster or the ball of slime, so clearly Eva was not the first example of life.
- The Louis Prima songs don't fit with Patrick Doyle's score.
Redeeming Qualities
- Decent animation.
- Igor, Eva, and Scamper (to extents) are all decent characters.
- Okay voice acting.
- Some funny and decent jokes such as Scamper almost calling a blind kid blind at the end.
- Nice music and score.
- The ending isn't so bad.
- Nice moral about how positivity rules over evil, and that it’s better to be a good nobody than an evil somebody.
- It might be a good movie to watch if you're feeling nostalgic.
- "YOU MADE!! MY MONSTER!! AN ACTRESS?!" "PULL THE SWITCH!" and "Do NOT yell at me" are funniest quotes.
- "IGOR!!!!!!!!!".
Reception
Critical Reception
- Igor received mixed to negative reviews from critics. According to Rotten Tomatoes, "critics say the film is something of a Frankenstein's monster, stitching together recycled parts from Shrek and The Nightmare Before Christmas. [...] While the pundits say Igor has moments of Tim Burton-esque visual invention, it's a pretty mediocre affair, filled with shopworn pop-culture references and manic action but few laughs; plus, it's probably a bit too dark for the wee ones." The site reports only 39% of 93 professional reviews being "fresh" as of December 2019; while the film holds a "mixed or average" aggregate score of 40/100 on Metacritic based on 19 reviews as of the same time. While The Age called Igor "a fun time-killer for kids aged tween and up;" The Austin Chronicle panned it for being uninspired in all aspects, such as animation, story, and voice acting; and The New York Post labeled it as "an excuse for a wearying parade of pop-culture references and voice cameos by celebrities," also calling its influences used more for "desperation than inspiration."
Box Office
- The filmed underperformed, grossing $30.7 million on a $25 million budget. This was probably due to it's macabre nature and themes.
Trivia
- It was MGM's first theatrical animated film after All Dogs Go to Heaven 2, and their last until Sherlock Gnomes.
External Links
Movie at the Internet Movie Database
Movie on Rotten Tomatoes
Video
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