This film is recommended.

The Boxtrolls, a well-crafted stop motion animation film combined with the latest CGI advances, is an entertaining but somewhat safer and slightly sanitized film from Laika, the same studio that delivered Coraline and ParaNorman, two earlier children's film with a twisted Gothic edge. A pleasant antidote to the cheery Disney fare regularly served to the young set, the film is diverting fun.

There are still twists and turns in the film but it's less of a giddy roller coaster ride than expected. Based on Alan Snow's novel, Here Be Monsters, the darker tone of the book has been substantially altered and lightened up for a more crowd-pleasing effect, although there are some grotesque moments that may frighten the little ones.

Moviegoers are immediately transported to the dingy squalor of brick factories and small shoppes that line the cobblestone streets of Dicken's Ole Victorian London town, or, in this case, renamed Cheesebridge. The upper and lower class live here, both in fear of the Boxtrolls, a lower lower subspecies that dwell underground who are part monster, part cardboard. Living amidst them is Eggs, an abandoned child who was lovingly raised by these creatures that roam the night to recycle the discarded refuse left by people. They avoid human contact as much as possible. Who can blame them! There is the haughty and aristocratic Lord and Lady Portley-Rind, their inquisitive and precocious daughter, Winnie, and especially Archibald Snatcher, a scheming and hateful villain whose main goal is to do away with all Boxtrolls!

As with most animated films nowadays, the visual elements are far superior to the narrative story. The Boxtrolls are not the exception. While the script has some clever dialog, an involving tale, and its charming characters, the plot becomes too formula-driven and conventional. The screenplay by Irena Brignull and Adam Pava relies too heavily on slapstick and chase sequences rather than developing any deep characterizations. The Boxtrolls themselves lack any real distinctive personalities and that British droll humor is in short supply. Everything seems a tad too predictable and ordinary, except for the artistry of the filmmakers and their wonderful details with the elaborate settings, steam-punk gadgetry, and off-beat characters. Special kudos to the remarkable production design by Paul Lasaine.

The voice-over work by the actors (Isaac Hempstead-Wright, Elle Fanning, Jared Harris, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, and Tracy Morgan) is highly accomplished and adds even more joy to the film, especially with Sir Ben Kingley's marvelous line delivery as the nasty baddie who completely steals the film. (In fact, Archibald is more interesting than our hero, Eggs, at least, as viewed in this film adaptation. Kingsley has created one of the best animated villains in years, although part of his great performance pays direct homage to Dame Edna.)

Directors Graham Annable and Anthony Stacchi painstakingly create a unique world of grime and clutter. They also allow the surreal elements to emerge to maximum effect, particularly in the underground sequences. Though the film lacks some cohesiveness in its story-telling, The Boxtrolls, more often than not, does think outside the box. With all its creative energy and technical inventiveness on display, even Roald Dahl would be proud. GRADE: B

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Pest exterminator Archibald Snatcher spreads rumors of evil Boxtrolls in the town of Cheesebridge. He tells the mayor Lord Portley-Rind that they'll even come after his cheese which is all he cares about. He strikes a bargain with the mayor to exterminate every Boxtroll for a White Hat which gives him membership to the city's cheese-loving council. The Boxtrolls are actually peaceful scavengers and they raised baby Eggs as one of their own. He's in an Eggs box living in their underground world eating bugs, collecting junk during the night and hiding from their tormentors. The mayor ignores his daughter Winnie in favor of his White Hat. She befriends Eggs and discovers the true nature of the Boxtrolls.

It's the same company that made ParaNorman and Coraline. They made a stop-motion animation world of ugly grotesque visions. It's not really a thing of beauty but it is interesting. What's probably missing is a sense of the Boxtroll characters. They are just a bunch of indistinguishable creatures. It would be so much better if the creatures are individual characters that the audience can understand. At least, an important character like Fish needs to be more unique. I do like the simple story of good versus evil.

I did not expect to love "The Boxtrolls" as much as I did, but I sure did. This is because the film is wholly unique and a gorgeous piece of art from start to finish. While I also enjoyed the weird plot, the look and style is what really caught my fancy.

The film is set in some sort of alternate universe. In this one, boxtrolls are literally cute little trolls who live inside boxes! Despite being shy and harmless creatures, the humans have the idea that they are a danger and have arranged for an evil guy, Archibald Snatcher (voiced by Ben Kingsley) to capture them and get rid of them once and for all. However, a baby that was raised by the boxtrolls named Egg might just be the one to stop this senseless slaughter and prevent Snatcher from realizing his ultimate goal...

This is a film you simply have to see to believe. Like other films by the same production company ("Coraline" and "Paranorman"), this one was made using stop-motion--which is very time consuming. But it's not just the quality of the stop-motion that is great but the wonderful art and design of the characters and town. Plus, the characters are unusual and avoid the usual clichés and is well worth your time.