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Movie-goers have understandably grown weary of holiday-themed motion pictures released during the lead-up to Christmas, a time when studios believe that audiences are in the mood for cheap and nasty festive distractions aimed at the lowest common denominator. Rise of the Guardians, however, is a completely different beast, as indicated by the fact that it's executive produced by Guillermo del Toro. Based on the Guardians of Childhood book series by William Joyce, Rise of the Guardians boasts a premise bound to make every screenwriter in Hollywood wonder how they didn't think of it first: uniting holiday icons and childhood folklore figures for an Avengers-style team-up movie. The resultant picture is a magnificent fantasy experience permeated with imagination which reworks familiar icons in a satisfying fashion. It carries a harder edge than expected, yet it's entirely suitable for children, with its adventurous plot giving rise to excitement aplenty. The flick could have been a numbing kiddie fare, but it's much more audacious.
Rise of the Guardians posits that - in addition to carrying out their respective duties - Santa Claus (Baldwin), the Easter Bunny (Jackman), the Tooth Fairy (Fisher), and sleeping agent the Sandman comprise an elite team of magical warriors who work together to battle the forces of evil who threaten the innocence of the world's children. The all-powerful moon presides over the team of esteemed Guardians, and brings suitable threats to their attention. The Guardians' arch nemesis, boogieman Pitch Black (Law), re-emerges from the darkness, seeking the chance to thwart all the goodness in the world and claim power over the minds of children across the globe. To stop Pitch's devious plan, Jack Frost (Pine) is extended an invitation to join the group. A loner with no knowledge about his past who has developed into a flippant troublemaker, Frost is hesitant to join the Guardians, but agrees to help overthrow Pitch when he learns that the boogieman may hold the key to his missing identity. As war wages between the forces of good and evil, and as children's belief in the mystical icons begins to fluctuate, the Guardians come into contact with a young boy named Jamie (Goyo), who unwaveringly believes in them and whose faith helps to fuel the team's endeavours.
The title of Rise of the Guardians is actually a tad misleading (not to mention hopelessly generic), as the Guardians rose to prominence long before this story takes place. A lot of the film's whimsical charm is derived from the marvellous re-imaginings of these fantastical icons: Santa (known as North here) is portrayed as a muscled Russian behemoth with "Naughty" and "Nice" tattooed on his forearms; the Easter Bunny is a badass Aussie warrior with a boomerang; the Tooth Fairy a hummingbird-esque nymph; Jack Frost is a slacker teen; and the Sandman is a quirky mute who communicates via objects he manufactures in gold sand above his head. The dynamics between the group are remarkable, with the screenwriters manufacturing in-jokes and bestowing each team member with quirks and personalities, not to mention each of them possess an inherent competitive streak that's most notably glimpsed in a side-splitting montage of the team taking care of a night of tooth collecting. If there's a disappointment in terms of the characters, it's Pitch, who looks like some type of generic emo rather than a sinister entity. Granted, Pitch had to be kid-friendly, but look at The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Amid the group dynamics, the picture required a strong central anchor. Jack Frost fulfils this need; he represents an emotional entry point for the audience, with the film essentially providing Jack's origin tale. As he has no memory of his life predating his turn towards immortality, Jack yearns to find his centre and understand where he came from. It's a formulaic concept, to be sure, but it bestows the picture with humanity, and everything gels thanks to the smart script by Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire. Moreover, Rise of the Guardians does a wonderful job with its mythology - the film makes it clear that the existence of these fantastical figures is reliant on children around the world believing in them. It's a solid idea, and the reinforcement of the film's central message is far more successful than Robert Zemeckis' drab misfire The Polar Express. Guardians eventually culminates with a marvellous finale that will warm your heart and leave you smiling, all without resorting to cheap manipulation or opting for the lazy way out.
Guillermo del Toro's influence is all over the visual design of the feature. Guardians looks positively gorgeous, and each frame bursts with colourful imagination. The flick features unique character designs, a selection of vibrant backgrounds, and lively photography thanks to the input of famed cinematographer Roger Deakins. The film is packed with awe-inspiring moments of whimsy and several breathtaking flights of fancy, not to mention visual humour courtesy of Santa's amusing minions. Whenever the movie cuts loose with action, the results are spectacular, displaying heightened creativity in its depiction of the protagonists' combat abilities. Who knew the Sandman was the one you really don't want to mess with?
Vocal performances are spot-on right across the board, with each actor injecting their role with an agreeable personality. Hugh Jackman is perhaps the best, giving the Easter Bunny a very funny Aussie twang. Jude Law is the most instantly recognisable performer here, and he's great as Pitch, belying the character's weak design by making him dark, mysterious and even charismatic. As Jack Frost, Chris Pine is a solid leading man, boyishly charming and believable as a devil-may-care slacker. Meanwhile, Alec Baldwin is a good fit for North. His Russian accent is just believable enough, and the esteemed performer additionally gives the role a degree of welcome gravitas. Rounding out the main players is Isla Fisher, who makes for an adorable Tooth Fairy.
From start to finish, Rise of the Guardians is absolutely wonderful, a superlative fantasy adventure packed with action, a terrific sense of humour and extravagant animated imagination. The best family movies are those which appeal to varying demographics, and this picture succeeds in that regard. Kids will adore the fast pace and the eye candy, teens will have a blast due to all the action and comedy, and adults will appreciate the film's depth and originality. Sure, it would've been nice to find out more about the other Guardians, and the film doesn't supplement the spectacle with much emotion, but it feels mean-spirited to point out the minor foibles of this otherwise extraordinary effort, especially in a market dominated by the likes of Ice Age 4 and The Smurfs. It's a shame the movie was not better rewarded at the box office, as I'd love to see the Guardians return for duty again someday, and I'd love to see them joined by a few new friends.
8.2/10
