While I have a preference for mid 2000’s comedy films, I am impartial to the odd animation or two. Call it a guilty pleasure or made for kids, I appreciate the art of film in all of its form. ‘Norm of the North’ is the tale of a polar bear, who tries to save his arctic home when it’s threatened by greedy corporate developers. A talking bear, a trip to New York City and a group of weird lemmings – this film is certainly not short of imagination.
The concept for this is admirable, but it didn’t hook me in the way I’d like it to have done. My best guess is that anyone over the age of five would feel the same. The story might not have been great, but the messages behind the film certainly reminded me of the following. This film is a reminder to be who you are supposed to be, and clearly exemplifies some sort of environmental message – I suppose it’ll teach the younger generation something.
Overall? Outlandish and offbeat. The characters are nice, but the narrative direction (or lack of it) lets this animation down. This film certainly isn’t for everyone, but if you like wacky humour you’ll be in for a treat. I can’t see this being a franchise, but I would 100% buy a lemming plushy toy.
Rating: 2.5/5
‘Norm of the North’ is available on Digital HD, DVD and Blu-ray now.
