Today’s quick review: Epic. After the death of her mother, Mary Katherine (Amanda Seyfried) goes to stay with her estranged father (Jason Sudeikis), who has spent his life trying to prove the existence of tiny people living in the forest. M.K. learns that her father is right when Queen Tara (Beyonce Knowles) shrinks her down to miniature size and charges her with protecting a seedpod that contains the lifeblood of the forest.
Epic is an animated fantasy action adventure set in a forest where the forces of life and decay are constantly at war. M.K. joins Nod (Josh Hutcherson) and Ronin (Colin Farrell), a pair of noble Leafmen, to protect the Queen’s pod from Mandrake (Christoph Waltz) and his evil army of Boggans. Epic is a classic tale of good and evil with an imaginative setting and detailed animation. However, its story and characters are something of a weak point.
Where Epic shines is its world-building. Nod, Ronin, and Queen Tara live in a minuscule fantasy kingdom where hummingbirds are steeds, leaves are armor, and proud warriors protect the forest against the corrupting influence of the Boggans. Epic’s setting is not that original, but its execution makes it a joy to take in. Every tree, weapon, and piece of clothing shows the same care and attention, making the entire world come to life.
Epic is on rockier ground with its characters. M.K. never really establishes herself as a heroine, Nod is too irresponsible to pick up the slack, and the movie cannot decide whether to make M.K.’s father a sympathetic figure or a punchline. The story has similar issues. Epic has a serviceable plot, but it never quite figures out how to drive its themes home. The result is a story that gets the job done but misses the opportunity to be greater.
Epic is a fine pick for anyone who enjoys fantasy and action for their own sake. Just spending time in Epic’s world is rewarding, and its action scenes are energetic enough to give the movie a solid backbone. But Epic falters when it comes to its story, and anyone looking for subtle character work or touching themes may be disappointed. Give it a shot if you are interested in seeing the forest from a new angle.
For a richer story from the same creator, try Rise of the Guardians. For another animated fantasy adventure about a tiny hidden world, try The Secret World of Arrietty, A Bug’s Life, or FernGully: The Last Rainforest. For a lighter take on the true nature of the forest, try My Neighbor Totoro. For a gorgeous and emotionally impactful animated fantasy movie about the fight between nature and industry, try Princess Mononoke.
[6.7 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0848537/). I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for strong world-building and a decent story to go with it.