A Town Called Panic (Panique au Village)

Directed by:  Stéphane Aubier, Vincent Patar Cast: Stéphane Aubier, Bruce Ellison, Vincent Patar Running Time: 1 hr 15 mins Rating: unrated Release Date: February 26, 2010

PLOT: When Mr. Horse's (Patar) birthday arrives, his friends Indian (Ellison) and Cowboy (Aubier) find themselves unprepared.  So in an attempt to make a last minute gift, they order a few too many bricks; unleashing a very unusual series of events.

WHO'S IT FOR? Anyone who likes animation, including children.  A great treat for viewers looking for something new and fun.

EXPECTATIONS: From the moment I saw stills from this film, I knew I had to see it.  It just looked too unique to ignore.

SCORECARD (0-10)

ACTORS:

Stéphane Aubier as Cowboy:  One of the directors voices this character, a child's toy who lives with his good friends, Horse and Indian.  Despite the fact that he's just a molded plastic figure with only one facial expression, Cowboy seems like a real character.  Aubier speaks like a child playing with toys, his voice is a little faster and higher than you'd expect a normal speaking voice to be.  It could come off as an affectation, but it doesn't.  It works. Score:  7

Bruce Ellison as Indian:  A plastic Native American in feathered headdress, the Indian is another toy from a bygone era.  His relationship with Cowboy is more two kids playing Cowboys and Indians than a typical Western's version.  Their relationship is charming and silly and helps to propel some of the funnier moments in the film.  Ellison speaks in a similar manner to Aubier which again, works. Score:  7

Vincent Patar as Horse:  The other director voices Horse, who is a plastic molded horse.  He's the brains of the operation, more sensible and hardworking than Cowboy and Indian.  He also has a crush on a redheaded temptress, Mrs. Longrée, which is his weakness.  Unlike the other animals, who live in a barn, Horse lives in a house which he shares with his good friends.  He lives more like a human than an animal, though he doesn't wear clothes (except for caps).  He's pretty awesome. Score:  8

SIGHTS: The design of the film is absolutely beautiful.  It's a stop-motion wonderland with a plethora of small models that look like the sort that a toy train hobbyist or dollhouse-maker would use.  The filmmakers use a variety of molded plastic figures, each molded in slightly different ways to convey movement.  It must have been an arduous way to make a film, but the the results look great.  It's the opposite of Pixar or Studio Ghibli where movement is meticulously smooth.  The moves are sometimes jerky, but it looks like the way a child would play with these toys and works great for this film. Score: 9

SOUNDS: The music manages to be both upbeat and cool, a rarity in a kids movie.  And those toys definitely know how to party. Score:  8

PLOT SPOILERS

BEST SCENE:  There are so many weird and unique scenes in this movie... but I'm going to go with the scene where our heroes are held captive in a snowball throwing Penguin Robot by a group of violent, balding, mad scientists.  How can you not want to see this movie?

ENDING:  Perfect!  Everyone's friends and we have a big party.  And Horse and Longrée get together!

QUESTIONS:  If Mrs. Longrée is a Mrs, does that make Horse a homewrecker?  How do the big walls fit in the tiny pond?  Should Indian consider changing his name to Native American?

REWATCHABILITY:  I could rewatch right now.  Not only because it's good, but I want to get other people into it as well.

OVERALL

Filmmakers Aubier and Patar have made a really unique feature length animated film.  It's silly, charming and very, very fun.  Describing the plot is difficult, events happen as cause and effect but follow the sort of logic a small child playing with toys would come up with, rather than a real world film.  However, so many films today strain credulity that it isn't a hard stretch to believe 50 million bricks could be balanced on a house or a group of undersea waffle fanatics are out stealing walls.  If you have no problem suspending disbelief, or a good imagination, then I think you'll love this movie.  It's rare that I see something this unique that really entertains.

FINAL SCORE: 8/10