SPERMAGEDDON (2024) Annecy 2024

The story of sperm waiting to be shot out into the world.

A film seemingly aimed at kids, its very much not a kids film dealing with sex in all of its forms.  It's a musical comedy about sperm waiting to win the big race as well as some humans looking to get lucky. 

How is it?

Amusing for a while, but there is point where it kind of runs out of steam. Sure it remains clever to the end but at the same time a little goes a long way and despite being clever it feels like it was going in certain directions to fill time. Think of it as INSIDE OUT but with graphic sex jokes.

Despite my feelings the film is most certainly going to have a long life as a cult film.

Worth a look.

Diplodocus (2024) Annecy 2024

As his world is literally being erased a cartoon dinosaur finds himself jumping through various comic books.

A very good animated story is punctuated by some not so good live action sequences involving the writer rushing under a deadline to make something publishable. It's a film that starts off  with a deep feeling that we'd been there before but once the film gets going and Diplodocus ends up crashing the wizard contest the film mostly jumps to life. 

I really liked most of this film. As I said I think the live action sequences are not very good, and the film has a bit of unevenness   as  it is trying to tie it all together, but at the same time it has some wonderful things such as the the tales of parents and children, some amazing turns (I loved getting some of the erasure) and some great animated characters.

The truth of the matter is I love enough of this film that I am frustrated that it wasn't perfect. There is some great stuff here ---and I wanted it all to be that great.

Ultimately there is so much good here you really need to see this film. You will almost certainly love a lot of this.

Track this gem down.

Living Large (2024)Annecy 2024

LIVING LARGE is one of the best films of 2024. It is one of the best films about growing up and being fat and trying to survive with friends I have ever seen. It’s a film that is so emotionally right that I was sobbing from  finally seeing my life on the screen.

This film is just glorious.

The film is the story of 12 year old Benny. His parents are divorced, puberty hit and he started to gain weight. He loves to cook and he loves to make music with his friends. As he gains weight the people around him try to help him lose weight, but it’s tough.

This film just works from top to bottom. It’s got great characters, fantastic music and sense of life that sucks you in. It’s a film that caught me unaware. I say this because it started and I wasn’t certain it was going to be my cup of tea, then the song began and I warmed up, and then Benny said “We’re at the age where when we get thrown out of the play ground we have no where to go.” And I fell head ove heels in love with the wisdom.

This is just a great film and it kills me because it isn’t Disney or Pixar or from Japan and as a result it may get lost in America and other parts of the world. People don’t gravitate toward films like this and it’s a sin. This film is light years beyond what Disney and Pixar is doing. It packs a punch that goes in your gut and stays there.

I Absolutely love this film

A must see.

The Glassworker (2024) Annecy 2024

As Vincent, a glassmaker in Waterside Town, prepares for an exhibition of his work, he runs across a letter from the girl he once loved and he thinks back to their meeting as children, right before war broke out on to their troubled parting.

Set in a time outside of time, it looks to be the late 19th or earlier 20th century but has designs that seem to be decades later. It's set in a world where the countries are not identifiable. There is no real world connection, this is like every where and nowhere that looks Western. It is a time and place that exists only in our heads and hearts. It is also a film that relies on visual references to Studio Ghibli, with Vincent's father looking like Hayao Miyazaki (we first see him drawing at a table much like the great director). 

While the set up of this story may make it seem like we've been here before the film quickly begins to shift into unexpected ways. This is very much a war story while always being a romance. It's a film that uses the the thread of romance to hang a lot of weighty subjects on for us to consider. This isn't just a romance but a film that ponders the stupidity of war,  how it changes everyone, and how we deal with losing the one person we love most in the world. It's a film that works because it is a film with complex characters that are aren't what you find in most animation, but complex works of art. They are so well drawn that they become like family. I  fell into the film and ended up being moved to tears by the ending.

I love the arc of this film. I love that we are not watching a movie but instead experiencing a novel. 

Hour after seeing the film I find myself haunted. I want to dive back in. I want to hang out with these friends and ride the rollercoaster of their lives again.

When this film comes near you you must see it.