Today’s quick review: The Iron Giant. When the Iron Giant (Vin Diesel), a massive, metal-eating robot from space, lands in a small town in Maine, Hogarth Hughes (Eli Marienthal), a local boy, is the first to discover it. Hogarth befriends the giant robot and teaches it about life on Earth. But to keep his new friend, he must hide him from Kent Mansley (Christopher McDonald), a government agent investigating strange reports in the area.
The Iron Giant is an animated science fiction adventure about a boy and his robot. The Iron Giant is a throwback to the science fiction of the mid-20th century. The movie features warm animation, good direction, and some charming moments. However, the movie’s simple plot and uniform tone make it hit-or-miss. For the right viewer, The Iron Giant is a heartwarming tale with good execution. For the wrong one, it can come across as a little flat.
The Iron Giant relies heavily on two key character dynamics: the friendship between Hogarth and the Giant, and Kent Mansley’s dogged search for proof of the Giant’s existence. These are both handled well, but they take up a lot of the movie without providing much variance. The moment-to-moment interactions between Hogarth and the Giant are sweet enough to make this a worthwhile tradeoff, but the movie does put its eggs in one basket.
Give The Iron Giant a shot if you are in the mood for an amusing, emotionally satisfying kids’ movie. Your enjoyment will depend strongly on how the movie’s tone catches you, but fans of family-friendly adventure should at least give it a shot. Skip it if you are looking for a wacky comedy or an elaborate plot. For a live-action science fiction film with a similar vibe, check out E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.
8.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for a charming but simple story; your score may vary.