Bizarre, in this case, is not a slight at the movie's content, but a description of its intent. This is a film that, if made by another studio, could have been very violent and chock full of sexual content. Plenty of studios have already played those cards, and that is where the Hyperions goes in a different direction altogether.
Marketed as an action comedy, the tone of the film would be more accurately referred to as a serious drama, with bizarre elements that are sometimes funny, but usually not. A quirky doctor has fashioned a pseudo family out of adopted children, personally selected and granted superpowers. Over time, however, he is influenced by the resulting fame and public relations and loses touch with this family. The story pieces together some of these background elements on the fly, which gives the story a serious tone as you watch the impact of feelings of confusion and abandonment in the young heroes as they mature into lives without their parents.
If you're thinking Umbrella Academy, well that would be very familiar, but this story goes in a very different direction. If the Umbrella Academy has a dark humour and offers no hope of reconciliation with their past, the Hyperions wraps up in a wholesome manner and rebuilds your heart.
Production value is there, with good acting, decent scripts and the occasional quirky joke. Sound and visuals perform well with mixed in animation and some fourth wall breaks. Cary Elwes is excellent in his role as the quirky and naive but stubborn doctor. Penelope Mitchell is excellent in the lead and Elaine Tan plays well off of her counterparts.
Overall a solid dramedy if you're into quirky wholesome entertainment, but some gruesome elements might deter the family audience it most relevantly addresses. These can be avoided for those that check the parent's guide.
Marketed as an action comedy, the tone of the film would be more accurately referred to as a serious drama, with bizarre elements that are sometimes funny, but usually not. A quirky doctor has fashioned a pseudo family out of adopted children, personally selected and granted superpowers. Over time, however, he is influenced by the resulting fame and public relations and loses touch with this family. The story pieces together some of these background elements on the fly, which gives the story a serious tone as you watch the impact of feelings of confusion and abandonment in the young heroes as they mature into lives without their parents.
If you're thinking Umbrella Academy, well that would be very familiar, but this story goes in a very different direction. If the Umbrella Academy has a dark humour and offers no hope of reconciliation with their past, the Hyperions wraps up in a wholesome manner and rebuilds your heart.
Production value is there, with good acting, decent scripts and the occasional quirky joke. Sound and visuals perform well with mixed in animation and some fourth wall breaks. Cary Elwes is excellent in his role as the quirky and naive but stubborn doctor. Penelope Mitchell is excellent in the lead and Elaine Tan plays well off of her counterparts.
Overall a solid dramedy if you're into quirky wholesome entertainment, but some gruesome elements might deter the family audience it most relevantly addresses. These can be avoided for those that check the parent's guide.
