I’ll start by answering the most obvious question: Is Tim Burton’s “Corpse Bride” as good as his previous stop motion opus, “The Nightmare Before Christmas“? Almost.
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Don’t get me wrong. Due to its amazing art direction as well as its state-of-the-art stop motion animation, this new Warner Brothers film is clearly technically superior to that 1994 Touchstone Pictures release. But — that said — “Corpse Bride” still never quite reaches the giddy heights that “Nightmare” did.
“And why is that exactly?,” you ask. To be honest, I think that most of the blame has to be laid at Danny Elfman’s feet. For the score that this Grammy Award winner has concocted for “Corpse Bride” just isn’t as strong as the songs that Elfman came up with for “Nightmare.”
Mind you, that may just be because — this time around — Danny didn’t find his source material to be all that inspiring. Which is understandable, given that “Corpse Bride” doesn’t really come to life ’til (ironically enough) our hero enters the Land of the Dead.
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But — before that happens — we spend a half hour or so in the rather drab human world. Where the aristocratic Everglots (because they’ve blown through the family fortune) are now forced to marry off their beautiful daughter, Victoria, to Victor. Who’s the son of Neil & William Van Dort, two nouveau-riche fishmongers.
Both Victor & Victoria are initially repelled by the idea of an arranged marriage …Until — of course — these two meet. And then their mutual attraction suggests that there might just be a happy ending to this business-agreement-masquerading-as-a-marriage.
But before that can happen, the soon-to-be-bethrothed couple have to successfully make it through their wedding rehearsal. Which — of course — is a disaster because high-strung Victor can’t complete his vows without stumbling & stammering.
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After accidentally setting his soon-to-be mother-in-law on fire, the embarassed bridegroom races out of the rehearsal. Eventually making his way to the forest just outside of town. Where, once he’s calmed down, Victor begins practicing his wedding vows. Even going so far as to place his bride’s wedding band on a gnarled tree branch. Just to see if he can successfully place a ring on Victoria’s finger.
Only that gnarled tree branch … It’s not a gnarled tree branch. But — rather — the boney finger of the Corpse Bride. A beautiful young girl who was mysteriously murdered on the night that she was to be wed. And ever since then, the Bride has waited in the forest for her bridegroom to come claim her.
And now that Victor has placed that ring on her finger, the Corpse Bride thinks she can finally begin the “Happily Ever After” portion of her after-life. Which is why she takes her understandably-reluctant bridegroom away with her to meet her friends in the Land of the Dead.
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It’s in this portion of the picture that “Corpse Bride” finally fully comes to life. As Mr. Bonejangles (voiced by Danny Elfman) leads an elaborate production number which explains the Bride’s backstory. Disney fans will particularly enjoy this portion of the film, which features several sly tributes to various shorts & features from the Mouse House.
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But — as beautiful as the Corpse Bride may be and/or as colorful & engaging as the Land of the Dead seems — Victor doesn’t want anything to do with it. He just wants to get back to the real world where he hopes to marry the lovely-and-still-breathing Victoria.
Of course, what Victor doesn’t realize is that the Everglots have been scandalized by the news that their soon-to-be son-in-law has been seen consorting with a corpse. So they hastily arrange another bridegroom for Victor: the handsome but sinister Barkis Bittern. Who — as it turns out — also has some ties to the Corpse Bride.
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At this point, the comic complications start piling up. But — in the end — it all comes down to this: Will Victor wind up at the altar with the living Victoria …
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… or with the undead-but-lovely Corpse Bride?
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To reveal any more of the plot (as slim as it might be) would really spoil the fun of this Tim Burton film. Though — to be honest — half the fun of this movie is watching all the stuff that’s going on in the background. The weird little character details that co-director Mike Johnson and his animation team have shoe-horned into this picture.
And as for the voice talent featured in “Corpse Bride,” Burton has really pulled out the stops here. You’ve got Johnny Depp providing vocals for Victor, while Helena Bonham Carter plays the Corpse Bride. Albert Finney, Joanna Lumley and Emily Watson do the voices of Finis, Maudeline and Victoria Everglot respectively. While Tracey Ullman and Paul Whitehouse provide vocals for Victor’s parents, Neil and William Van Dort. Add in Richard E. Grant as the voice of Barkis Bittern & Christopher Lee as Pastor Galswells and you’ve obviously got yourself one hell of a vocal cast.
All the right elements are there, folks. That distinctive Tim Burton look. Truly incredible stop motion animation. A great vocal cast. A reasonably entertaining (if somewhat predictable) screenplay. And a score that — admittedly — could have been a little bit better.
The end result is an animated feature that is almost as good as “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” Almost. By that I mean: “Corpse Bride” is a very good film. Just not a great one.
Even so, I urge all animation fans to get out and see “Corpse Bride.” If only for that card that comes at the very end of the credits. Where Tim Burton pays tribute to his long-time friend (and executive producer of this picture), Joe Ranft.