Igor (film)

infobox film
name = Igor


caption = Film poster
director = Tony Leondis
writer = Chris McKenna
starring = John Cusack
Steve Buscemi
John Cleese
Jennifer Coolidge
Arsenio Hall
Sean Hayes
Eddie Izzard
Jay Leno
Molly Shannon
Christian Slater
producer = John D. Eraklis
Max Howard
John McKenna
Darius A. Kamali
Matthew Parker
Jamee Deruso
Jean Luc De Fanti
production company = Exodus Film Group
distributor = MGM (USA)
The Weinstein Company (co-production)
Alliance Films (Canada & France)
Universal Studios (Canada Distributor)
released = September 19 2008
country = United States
language = English
runtime = 87 min
budget = $30,000,000
gross = $17,176,795
website = http://www.igor-movie.com/
amg_id = 1:356165
imdb_id = 0465502

"Igor" is a 2008 computer animated comedy film, it is a humorous take on the stock character Igor. The plot revolves around the grotesque title figure Igor (voiced by Cusack) and his dreams of winning first place at the Evil Science Fair. The movie was released on September 19, 2008. The movie is currently a box office bomb, yet the filmmakers have stated that the earnings fulfilled their predictions. [cite web| title = Animation World Network article on the film |url = http://mag.awn.com/index.php?ltype=pageone&article_no=3771]

Plot

The film is set in a fantasy world that contains elements of the horror film and steampunk genres with a hint of Tim Burton in the design. Located in this world is a thriving village grimly named "Malaria", whose economy was based almost exclusively on agriculture until a mysterious change in climate caused the crops to wilt, impoverishing the people. A newly-risen leader styling himself "King Malbert" (Jay Leno) eventually proposes a new economy based on the creation of increasingly sophisticated, bizarre, monstrous, terrifying inventions; an idea that soon becomes the community's cultural core. Thereafter the inventors of frightening machines, who are known as "Evil Scientists", become the ruling class and are depicted overall as commanding, arrogant figures. Those born with a hunch on the back (an evidently common deformity) are forced to become laboratory assistants nicknamed "Igor", who are treated as an oppressed lower class and often thought stupid by the Evil Scientists who employ them. The protagonist of the film is an Igor (John Cusack) who is scientifically intelligent, despite being shunned by his own master, Doctor Glickenstein (John Cleese). According to the film's premise, this Igor has brought a cynical rabbit named Scamper (Steve Buscemi) back to life from death, and had made him immortal, much to Scamper's chagrin. Igor is also said to have transplanted a human brain into a life-support robot, which is thereafter nicknamed Brain (Sean Hayes).

As the film progresses, Doctor Glickenstein invents a rocket to demonstrate his skill at the annual Evil Scientists' Fair; but he is killed during a malfunctioning test run. Taking a chance to reveal his own prowess, the protagonist Igor decides to keep his master's death a secret and participate in the Fair himself. He therefore assembles a huge, monstrous being (in effect a female version of Frankenstein's Monster) from human tissue. When he brings her to life, Igor discovers, contrary to his expectations and the norms of Malaria, that the giant is gentle, polite, and affectionate. When Igor explains his expectations of her, the giant (Molly Shannon) mispronounces the word "evil" and converts it to "Eva", which becomes her name. Igor surmises that the 'Evil Bone' (her version of a component that presumably bestows malice on any invention) had not activated properly, and therefore brings Eva to the "Brain-Wash" to correct this by having her watch violent acts on television. As she watches, Brain absentmindedly changes the channel in the midst of the treatment and thereby causes Eva to adapt the personality of a kind-hearted Hollywood actress. Igor uses this to his advantage by telling her that the Fair is an audition for the role of Annie, convincing her to co-operate with him. While preparing for her role, Eva becomes close friends with Igor and supports him in his goal of defying convention.

Meanwhile, a prosperous, ambitious Evil Scientist named Doctor Schadenfreude (Eddie Izzard) is at odds with the King, whose respect he has not earned sufficiently despite having won seventeen of the annual contests. Upon learning of Eva's existence, he attempts to plagiarize her, but is unsuccessful.

Eventually, Igor comes to believe that his affections toward Eva have overshadowed his intentions and tries to overcome this factor, which he perceives as a disadvantage. Not long after, Doctor Glickenstein's former assistant Heidi pays them a visit. When Eva inquires into the reason for this, Heidi admits she has become enamored of Igor during his self-transformation, and adds a comment that puts Eva's self-esteem in doubt. During the night before the Fair, Eva sees Igor sharing a French kiss with Heidi, who is later revealed to be Doctor Schadenfreude's girlfriend Jaclyn (Jennifer Coolidge) in disguise. Igor is subsequently exposed and arrested by the King, who throws Igor into the shaft designated as an "Igor Disposal". Eva is then approached by Doctor Schadenfreude, who persuades her to work for himself. He then reactivates her 'Evil Bone' by coercing her into committing an act of violence against himself, which apparently by unlocking potential malice transforms her into a growling monster.

Scamper and Brain follow Igor into the Disposal and free him. All three rush toward the Fair to save Eva. While searching for a means of approach, Igor discovers that the darkening of the sky which resulted in the climate's change over Malaria is caused and sustained by a machine implied to have been created by King Malbert. This suggests that Malbert himself caused the changes on purpose to assume the role of leader and re-organize the society according to his plans. Having discovered this, Igor rushes into the arena where all mobile inventions are fighting, including a deranged Eva, and tells Eva in particular that potential for evil (represented by the 'Evil Bone') exists in all beings, but that each being may choose to disobey it. Hearing this in spite of her madness, Eva regains her sanity and reconciles with Igor. Scamper and Brain, meanwhile deactivate the weather-manipulation machine, allowing the climate to return to its temperate character and disgracing King Malbert.

For his heroism, Igor is soon dubbed the new king. Doctor Schadenfreude takes the throne for a brief few minutes, but is stripped of his occupation and respect. The Fair is changed to an annual musical theater showcase, with Eva as the centerpiece of the first event, while all of Igor's former colleagues become equals to their erstwhile masters.

Voice cast

Casting

Producer Max Howard explained how they came to attract so many A-list actors into the cast of this relatively obscure studio: "We sent them the script... Steve Buscemi signed on very early, and he's an 'actor's actor.' Then others signed on... it just took off that way". [cite web| title = Animation World Network article on the film |url = http://mag.awn.com/index.php?ltype=pageone&article_no=3771]

Christian Slater was originally cast for the voice of Igor. Jeremy Piven was originally cast as Doctor Schadenfreude.

James Lipton appears as himself during a television viewing.

Production

This is the first animated feature film produced by Exodus Productions; the CG animation was created by French studio Sparx* [cite web |title=Exodus Prods. Enlists French Sparx on Igor |work=Animation World Magazine |publisher=Animation World Network |date=2007-06-07 |url=http://news.awn.com/index.php?ltype=cat&category1=films&newsitem_no=20030 |accessdate=2008-08-26] . Distribution is by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (The Weinstein Company is no longer involved). [cite web |title=The Weinstein Company Acquires Igor |work=MovieWeb |publisher= |date=2007-05-23 |url=http://www.movieweb.com/news/76/19976.php |accessdate=2008-08-26] .

Discworld

The concept of Igors is very close to the Igors in Terry Pratchetts Discworld series, although whether or not this is intentional is unknown.

Reception

"Igor" has received mostly negative reviews by critics. A positive review by John Anderson of "Newsday" stated that "Not all the jokes work, but most do, and the overall tenor of Igor is goofily funny -- probably a bit sophisticated for kids but certainly good-natured". Claudia Puig of "USA Today" awarded the film with a middling two-and-a-half stars, writing: "This story of a world of mad scientists and their Igor lab assistants has some inspired lunacy as it spoofs classic horror films, though sometimes the jokes grow belabored". Michael Phillips of the "Chicago Tribune" took his child to a screening and asked him to criticize the movie, reporting that they "had a fairly good time".

Rotten Tomatoes reported that 29% of critics gave postive reviews. [cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/igor/|title=Igor Movie Reviews|work=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher="Rotten Tomatoes"|accessdate=2008-09-19] Among Rotten Tomatoes's "Cream of the Crop", the film garnered an overall 21% rating based on 14 reviews. [cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/igor|title=Igor Movie Reviews from Cream of the Crop|work=Rotten Tomatoes|accessdate=2009-09-19] The film opened #4 with $7,803,347, behind "Lakeview Terrace", "Burn After Reading", and "My Best Friend's Girl". [cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?view=&yr=2008&wknd=38&p=.htm|title=Box Office Weekend Gross from 9/17 to 9/19|publisher="Box Office Mojo"|accessdate=2008-09-19] In its 3rd week of release, the film slipped from No.6 in the Box Office Chart to No.14. As of October 6th, 2008, the film has grossed $17,176,795 in the US alone.

ee also

*List of animated feature films

References

External links

*imdb title|id=0465502|title=Igor
*