Director, Tim Burton must have a very odd view of the afterlife. In Beetlejuice, he had a bio-exorcist and suicides as social workers on the other side; his Sleepy Hollow was so gothic that it gave a new definition to the term; and his first major animation movie project, The Nightmare Before Christmas unleashed the weirdest creatures on the world to replace Father Christmas. His latest, Corpse Bride certainly doesn’t let the side down – cartoon weddings will never be the same again.

Johnny Depp voices Victor, a young man who finds himself in an arranged marriage with a bride, Victoria who he has never seen so his parents can become social climbers. During the wedding rehearsal he becomes so tongue-tied that he wanders off and accidentally manages to recite his vows in a forest. The next thing he knows, he has proposed to a corpse (Helena Bonham-Carter) and is taken down into the underworld to begin a new life.

The film is a joy, full of snappy one-liners and a smattering of songs that won’t annoy even the most musical-phile (such as this reviewer). Depp is suitably meek as the young Victor and Bonham-Carter tugs at the heart strings for the poor Corpse Bride who only wants to be loved. The animation is also flawless and the script isn’t bad, either. Perfect for kids and adults who want to see something different.

(4/5)

Release Date: 06 February 2006

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Corpse Bride