Clay is something which kids can really go crazy with. Of course it’s also perfect to use it for stop motion films. The best examples are of course the Wallace and Grommit movies. Edison and Leo also belongs to this genre and tells the story of the Edison family. Edison is an inventor who has secluded himself from the rest of the world, he’s put up a high electrified fence making his house almost impenetrable. There are times when he does leave his house to “borrow” some ideas, but doesn’t do this often. He has two sons who are schooled at home and believe what they have been told by their parents about the world outside the fence.
When Edison finds his wife badly hurt he takes a train to and indian tribe who posses a magical light book and who are able to cure her. Edison decides to steal their book which results in the indians losing their powers. They decide to get their book back.
Edison’s son Leo is hit by lightning during a storm, survives, but is forced to where gloves as he electrocutes everything he touches. When he finds out the truth of what happened with his mother he gets into a battle with his father. As the indians also want to get revenge it is a tough time for Edison. All this is told with lots of humour, although there is definitely a dark feel about it all.
Despite the clay I wouldn’t say that it’s a movie that is suited for younger children as they are some more mature bits in it, like a decapitation. The animation is great and Edison’s voice has been done by Powers Boothe (which according to cracked.com is one of the most manly names in existence (and of course he’s a great actor as he showed in the HBO series Deadwood)). So it is a fun movie if you want to watch something a little bit different.
Score: 7