The world premiere of Netflix’s Ray Gunn happened on Saturday at the London Film Festival at the Royal Festival Hall, with the film’s director, Brad Bird, composer Michael Giacchino, Scarlett Johansson, and Sam Rockwell in attendance. Ahead of the film’s debut, Johansson and Rockwell sang a sped-up version of “Happy Birthday” to Giacchino.
A First-Hand Look at Brad Bird’s Passion Project
Over the summer, I got to see the first half-hour of Ray Gunn while visiting Netflix Animation Studios in Burbank, California. I loved what I saw, and I’m super jealous of everyone who got to see the whole shebang in London today. Thankfully, everyone who’s seen the movie can share their thoughts online, and the first reactions I’ve found to Bird’s animated neo-noir are glowing!
Critics Praise the Sci-Fi Noir Style, Voice Cast, and Score
Courtney Howard of LA Film Critics loved the film, saying, “Brad Bird’s #RayGunn is like Blade Runner meets The Maltese Falcon. A visionary, breathtaking & awe-inducing retro futuristic noir mystery housing exhilarating action, exquisite animation & a sparkling soundtrack. Rockwell & Johansson are perfect, but Tom Waits is stellar.”
Matt Neglia of Next Best Picture also praised Bird’s latest masterpiece, saying, “RAY GUNN, Brad Bird’s passion project for over thirty years, is as fully realized as any of his other iconic animated films with memorable characters, thrilling action set pieces and a pure love for cinema, particularly gumshoe noir and classic sci-fi, that makes it an enjoyable experience from beginning to end. The animation itself feels a bit dated but it’s brought to life by Bird’s exuberance, the quality voice acting from Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson, and especially Tom Waits and Michael Giacchino’s bouncy, breezy score along with some standout songs written by Kimbra and performed by Johansson. A clever and fun way to get younger audiences (but not too young) interested in film noir.”
Junior Felix of That Hollywood Show said, “Brad Bird is BACK with RAY GUNN! His latest animated masterpiece is a noir sci-fi detective caper that’s perfect for every family. It’s a thematically rich old school blockbuster that you just don’t see anymore. The love and attention that’s in every frame is awe-inspiring. From Michael Giacchino’s jaw-dropping score, to Sam Rockwell’s slick Bogart like qualities, this film is truly a work of art. It took Bird 30 years to make this beauty, it was so worth the wait. #RayGunn“
James Crooks of DiscussingFilm was pleasantly surprised by the film, saying, “Ray Gunn was amazing and really surprised me. Delivers an incredible, and accessible, commentary on modern politics, ai and anti-corporate sentiments that really grant gravitas. Pair this with Giacchino’s immense score and vibrant colours, yeah wow. Really brilliant stuff.”
Nandita of The Rolling Tape said Bird’s new film is “perfect,” writing, “RAY GUNN is an amalgamation of everything we adore about Brad Bird’s work. Cinematic animation, succinct storytelling and all sorts of twists and turns. Johansson and Rockwell’s voice acting was stellar. Giacchino’s score is as perfect as you’d expect. A real treat! “
Tessa Smith of Mama’s Geeky shared high praise for the film as well, saying, “Ray Gunn brilliantly blends Sci-Fi & Film Noir genres, delivering something that almost feels like it was discovered in the back of a studio closet somewhere. It’s an intriguing mystery thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Plus Scarlett Johansson sings! #RayGunn“
NerdsOfColor also shared a glowing review, posting, “Wow! #RayGunn is an absolute blast! The world and the style #BradBird has crafted is gorgeous and worthy of multiple visits. Mature and hilarious, with great voice acting and stellar action! Simply put it is the coolest and most stylish animated movie of the year so far!”
The Few Mixed Reactions
Meanwhile, Angie Han of The Hollywood Reporter did not care for Bird’s new film, and as part of one of the few negative reactions I’ve found online, wrote, “Ray Gunn, Netflix’s new Skydance Animation feature from Pixar alum Brad Bird, is not special. It’s a blandly palatable jumble of sci-fi and neo-noir clichés, not so much awful as underwhelming. Lacking in both visual pop and emotional specificity, it’s a forgettable entry in an otherwise rich career that’s run the gamut from Ratatouille to The Incredibles to Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol.”
Finally, Guy Lodge of Variety said, “Ray Gunn has slick, boundless energy and resourcefulness to spare, but that doesn’t quite amount to charm.”
To learn more about Ray Gunn, make sure you check out everything we learned about the film from our set visit over the summer. I’m counting the seconds until I can see a complete version of Ray Gunn, and I’m pleased to see so many people celebrating its characters, neon-lit world, and boundless energy.
Ray Gunn arrives on Netflix on December 18, with limited theatrical engagements ahead of its streaming release.
Source: JoBlo
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