Big Hero 6
2014  PG  ANIMATED  1h 42min
CAST— Ryan Potter, Scott Adsit, Daniel Henney, T.J. Miller, Jamie Chung, Damon Wayans, Jr., Genesis Rodriguez, James Cromwell, Maya Rudolph, Alan Tudyk
MUSIC— Henry Jackman  DIRECTOR— Don Hall  BASED ON— Characters appearing in Marvel Comics

     Marvel Comics' parent company Disney brings an animated comic adaptation to the big screen. Hiro is super smart, but his only interest is in making money by entering illegal robot fighting tournaments. But when his big brother Tadashi takes Hiro to see his college robotics lab, Hiro sees that he can use his considerable smarts in more interesting ways than gambling. To compete for a scholarship Hiro enters a science exhibition, presenting his own microbots, small robots with limitless possibilities. He earns the scholarship but loses his brother and his new professor when a fire destroys the arena. Grieving, Hiro forgets about college until he stumbles across his brother's school project: Baymax, an inflatable robotic healthcare assistant. Though there's no doubt as to Baymax's medical prowess, other attributes may need an upgrade. With the help of Baymax and his newfound collegiate friends Hiro uncovers a plot by a mystery figure in a mask to use Hiro's microbots for nefarious purposes. Now using their robotics projects as superheroic armor and gadgets, this team of six is ready to defend San Fransokyo from this masked menace. Though this is very loosely adapted from the comic, this film stands on its own, not as a kick-bottom superhero action flick, but as a heartfelt glimpse at friends and family and the role they can play in helping to alleviate grief. The character of Baymax is welcome, as his adorable, huggable nature steals the show. Older kids may expect more from this, but for the younger set this may be the perfect introduction to superhero films. Later developed into a television series. Oscar-winner for Best Animated Feature.
OUR RATING— ** ½