LAFF Review: Ponyo

Ponyo

OPENING: 08/14/2009

STUDIO: Disney

ACCOMPLICES:
Trailer, Official Site

SOUNDTRACK:

The Charge
Welcome to a world where anything is possible.

Opening Statement
In an age where our animation has grown increasingly photorealistic, there’s nothing like a traditional hand drawn adventure to remind you of the power the art form still holds.

Facts of the Case
Little Brunhilda (Noah Cyrus) has tired of undersea life and longs to see what magic the surface world holds. Masterminding an escape from her ever vigilant father Fujimoto (himself a one-time surface dweller), she befriends six-year old Sosuke (Frankie Jonas), who forms an instant attachment. Believing she is the most beautiful goldfish he has ever seen, he names her Ponyo. Unfortunately, their time together is short-lived. When Fujimoto (Liam Neeson) discovers the deception, his mastery of the sea reclaims little Ponyo, leaving Sosuke heartbroken. However, exposure to the surface world has awakened powers within Ponyo, whose magic now enables her to take human form and return to the boy she loves… but not without dire consequences. An imbalance between worlds results, altering the Earth’s gravitational pull and drawing the moon in on a collision course with the planet. The only way to stop the destruction is through the assistance of Ponyo’s mother Granmamare, goddess of the sea (Cate Blanchett), and Sosuke’s ability to pass the test of true love.

The Evidence
Hayao Miyazaki may begrudge being labeled as the Walt Disney of Japan, but the comparison is an honorable one. From his spy genre directorial debut in 1979 with Lupin the Third: The Castle of Cagliostro through 2004′s Oscar-nominated Howl’s Moving Castle, Miyazaki and his Studio Ghibli team have created a stable of world class, traditionally animated fairy tales that rival the golden age of Walt’s Nine Old Men. 2008 saw the release of his latest masterpiece, Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea, and his partnership with the Disney company brings us this all-star English dub. While Ponyo may be geared more towards the little ones, Miyazaki’s trademark stylings are once again in full force, with eye-popping visuals and sweeping operatic sequences that will tickle the imagination of all ages.

This variation on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid, with a dash of Willy Wonka thrown in for good measure, is focused almost solely on Ponyo and Sosuke. What little B and C storylines there may be — the strained relationship between Sosuke’s mom Lisa (Tina Fey) and never-home-sea-faring father Koichi (Matt Damon), the nursing home residents Lisa cares for, Ponyo’s father and his plans for world domination — they ultimately provide nothing more than window dressing for this classic boy-meets-girl, boy-loses-girl, boy-gets-girl-back tale. Sadly, this singular focus proves somewhat of a detriment to the overall story, as several key pieces of information are never fully explained. But this is not unusual for Miyazaki, who feels stories like these should be told on a childlike level, reaching deep within us to a simpler time when unnecessary details didn’t matter. So if you’re hyper-vigilant about plot holes — how humans can breathe underwater and sea life can breath on land, the unexplained relationship between Ponyo’s parents Fujimoto (a human) and Granmamare (a sea elemental), Fujimoto’s elixir experiments, the unconscionable choice Lisa makes leaving two 5 year old children at home when their home is about to go underwater due to tremendous storm — this one might make you a bit batty.

Adults unfamiliar with Miyazaki’s films may get fidgety, as did many audience members during this closing night presentation of the Los Angeles Film Festival. He thinks nothing of letting the camera sit and absorb all the aspects of the world around his characters, for the environment is as important to the story as the characters themselves. People attuned to the Tony Scott, McG, Michael Bay summer movie madness where the brain has little time to digest anything, may find it hard to adjust. For those willing to try, you will be well rewarded. This is sumptuous savory filmmaking at its finest. The detail the Ghibli team brings to its work rivals the best in the animation business. The palate ranges from the brightest primary colors to the deepest darkest hues of the sea. There is nary a wasted line or brush stroke in any scene, and even the tiniest of characters get the opportunity to shine. And it’s all once again underscored by a brilliant score from composer Joe Hisaishi. While the theme song is be a bit pop-hokey (the Americanized version is worse), the score itself amps every emotion to the Nth degree.

English dubs have long been hit and miss, dividing anime purists who feel these films should be seen and appreciated in their original form. But Disney has once again gone above and beyond the call of duty, casting not just high-profile talent, but voices that lend sincerity and depth to these characters. Tina Fey and Matt Damon disappear into their roles as Sosuke’s parents. Betty White, Cloris Leachman, and Lily Tomlin are wonderfully subtle as Sosuke’s elderly companions, and it’s a rare treat to have Tomlin play the heavy. And Liam Neeson and Cate Blanchett bring tremendous gravitas to their undersea personas. I only wish we could have spent more time with time. As it is, they all seem more like plot devices than fully fleshed out characters. After all, the film belongs to Disney’s newest prince and princess — 9 year old Noah Cyrus (Miley’s little sister) and 8 year old Frankie Jonas (the fourth pistno in the Jonas Brothers machine) — both of whom perfectly capture the wonder and exuberance of their onscreen counterparts.

Closing Statement
It’s easy to forget how we once viewed life as untainted, unburdened beings, where every experience held rapt our full attention, and every resulting emotion was purely expressed without fear of judgment or retribution. Ponyo takes us back to that time, if only for 100 minutes. It may not crack the upper echelon of Miyazaki’s impressive career and parents may find it hard to keep their interest, but the kids in our audience were mesmerized from start to finish. For that achievement alone, Ponyo is a welcome addition to the Studio Ghibli canon.

The Verdict
8.5/10

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