Coraline

In this stop motion, animated adventure (which is worth seeking out in 3D), Dakota Fanning provides the voice of Coraline – the new girl in town with a vivid imagination and a couple of workaholic parents, Mother (Teri Hatcher) and Father (John “PC” Hodgman). Life doesn’t seem all that great as Father is not a good cook, the only person who wants to be her friend is the annoying Wybie (Robert Bailey Jr.) and her apartment complex is full of nutty neighbors (and we’re not talking about the entertaining kind of nutty like Kramer, more like the mildly amusing Mr. Roper).

One night, a mouse beckons her to a mysterious door in the living room. Of course, Coraline feels the need to open it, and she discovers a magical portal to a bizarro world that appears to be just like hers, but much better. Other Mother (Hatcher) dotes on her. Other Wybie is fun to be with, and Coraline is the center of all attention.

Is this other world as good as it appears?

What wickedness lies beneath the veneer of cheer?

Coraline is a visual masterpiece combined with a decent story that could have had a better resolution. Writer/director Henry Selick (based on a book by Neil Gaiman) does a fantastic job introducing us to each world as the audience sees Coraline in her every day adventures and frustrations, but then we are transported to a magical and oddly foreboding world that could come straight out of any Tim Burton movie or nightmare you experience after eating too much pizza (and, since Selick directed The Nightmare Before Christmas, I guess the Tim Burton connection is quite strong). Adventure and excitement are around every corner, but Selick also doesn’t let the audience forget that something is awry in this wonderful fantasy come true.

Unfortunately, I felt like Selick could have done more to beef up the story to match the visuals. After so much time spent establishing the world around Coraline, the resolution feels rushed and needed more details to make the big climactic showdown meaningful.

Kids will enjoy the scares that aren’t horrifying, and parents will be amazed at the animation.

Coraline is rated PG for thematic elements, scary images, some language and suggestive humor.