Ray Gunn is a long time coming from Brad Bird. The film has been in the works in some form or fashion since the late 80s. Now, it’s finally here, and boy, am I happy that it is. The film blends together classic animation, film noir, action, adventure, mystery, and cyberpunk vibes into a film that’s a mix of genres, but doesn’t ever feel like it’s falling apart. Sam Rockwell stars as Ray Gunn, a private detective who’s hired to follow and keep track of Venus Nova (Scarlett Johansson). He and his partner, Eye-Ra (Tom Waits) uncover a conspiracy and a mystery, and get chased by alien gangsters.
I would accurately describe the film as Film Noir 101. It has all the hallmarks of the genre, and that might normally be a turnoff, but that’s not a genre that gets used too much these days. Ray Gunn doesn’t do so in a wink-wink way either; it just goes for it, which is kind of refreshing to see. Rockwell is pitch perfect as Gunn. He’s great in everything he does but his voice just fits perfectly as the grisled detective with a heart of gold. Scarlett Johansson is also great as Venus Nova, lending a sultry vibe to the pop star, but also giving her an edge that you’ll have to guess as the film goes on.
With those two providing their voices in great roles, the best performance is from Tom Waits as Eye-Ra. Most of the comedy is from his dry/wry delivery. He also provides a lot of the commentary on alien/human relations in the film, which is a backbone.
A Classic For Kids And Adults Alike
The thing that struck me the most about Ray Gunn was that it gives some pretty deep commentary on things that we all deal with in our lives, but does so in a measured and easy-to-digest way. The other thing that struck me was that I had the general feeling that if I were 6 years old watching this movie, I’d immediately ask my parents for toys from the film. As an adult, I’d still want the toys, but I also really enjoyed the movie. There’s stuff in here about technological advances like AI replacing people, immigrants, how we treat pop stars/famous people, business, corporations, and much more. There’s really a lot to unpack but it doesn’t ever get in the way of the story.
The blend and intrigue of the story is the strongest part of Ray Gunn. Even if some of the developments are easy to see as a seasoned moviegoer, it doesn’t lessen their impact.
Following up on the animation, it’s simply stunning. They do things with lighting and facial movements that feel like you’re just watching a live-action film. The action is fluid, and some of the best action set pieces are among the most thrilling of the year. Ray Gunn‘s stylings are classic and throwback to a lost era, but it never feels old and tired.
Another Film Where I Wanted To Scream From The Rooftops After Seeing It
Is there anything about Ray Gunn that I didn’t enjoy? No, not really. It might be on the long side for some kids to watch, but the animation and action will keep anyone with an attention problem glued to the screen.
The long and short of Ray Gunn is that it is an endlessly entertaining film. No matter the audience, the movie works. This is going to be entertaining for kids, it’ll be entertaining for adults, it’ll be entertaining for anyone. The animation is stunning, the performances are great, and all around, this is among the best films of the year. We’ve waited a long time for Brad Bird’s return to animation, and this is worth the wait.
Ray Gunn releases in theaters on December 4th and on Netflix on December 18th.
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