Animated Bigfoot entertains
The Son of Bigfoot (PG, 92mins) Directed by Jeremy Degruson and Ben Stassen ★★★1⁄2
A kind of Disney’s Tarzan-meets-Teen Wolf, this Belgian animated movie surprises in its easy comedy, cliffhanging action and ability to captivate a young audience.
Created by the same directorial duo – Jeremy Degruson and Ben Stassen – as 2013 charmer The House of Magic, The Son of Bigfoot is the story of 13-year-old Adam Harrison. As if struggling with ‘‘mid-level acquaintance deficiency’’ (no friends) wasn’t bad enough, the Portland teen’s shoe size has rapidly altered and his hearing significantly enhanced. But it’s when a haircut from his mother is strangely reversed overnight that Adam begins to think something is up.
A chance discovery of a biscuit tin full of letters confirms this. He’d always been told his scientist father had died when he was a baby, but a recent postmark proves Dad’s very much alive and in contact with his Ma.
Distraught, Adam sets out find Pop and uncover the truth. However, his curiosity unwittingly puts himself and his family in grave danger.
With an English script polish from Escape From Planet Earth‘s Bob Barlen and Cal Brunker, Son of Bigfoot contains plenty of memorable characters and dialogue. A running gag about the National Enquirer will amuse adults in the audience, while the discerning animation experts who accompanied me loved the antics of Trapper the racoon.
Yes, it’s another film filled with talking animals, but between the pop-infused score, genuine jeopardy and Spielberg-inspired action scenes there’s more than enough to entertain children of all ages. – James Croot