Today’s Prayer Focus
MOVIE REVIEW

Igor

MPA Rating: PG-Rating (MPA) for some thematic elements, scary images, action and mild language.

Reviewed by: David Criswell, Ph.D.
CONTRIBUTOR

Moral Rating: Offensive
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience: Kids Family
Genre: Animation Comedy Kids Family
Length: 1 hr. 27 min.
Year of Release: 2008
USA Release: September 19, 2008 (2,300 theaters)
Copyright, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Copyright, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Copyright, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Copyright, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Copyright, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Copyright, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Copyright, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Copyright, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Copyright, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Copyright, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
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Featuring Steve Buscemi, John Cleese, Jennifer Coolidge, John Cusack, Arsenio Hall, Sean Hayes, Eddie Izzard, Jay Leno, James Lipton, Molly Shannon, Christian Slater, Paul Vogt
Director Anthony Leondis
Producer Jean-Luc De Fanti, Jamée Deruso, John D. Eraklis, Max Howard, Darius A. Kamali, John McKenna, Matthew J. Parker
Distributor Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Trademark logo.Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), owned by Amazon® through MGM Holdings, Inc.

“All men aren't created Evil.”

In listing the “primary audience” I was forced to list “kids” but don't be fooled, IGOR is not a film for small children at all. “Igor” is the story of a hunchback lab assistant to an “evil genius” whose job is to create “evil inventions.” When the scientist dies, however, Igor decides to create his own invention… a living being.

“Igor” is obviously a parody of Frankenstein. Having created an “evil” woman, Igor soon finds that she is not evil at all (much to his disappointment). He sets out to make her evil, so she can kill and destroy, but soon learns that evil isn't all it is cut out to be.

The story behind “Igor” is promising, but both the execution and the script are flawed. The animation is standard and could not elevate the story above its unpolished script.

One of the problems is that the movie is supposedly intended for children, but is anything but child friendly. Toilet humor, violence, and innuendo abound. Worse yet is that the characters are not generally that likeable except for the monster herself. IGOR himself is constantly ordering her to kill and maim and never learns “goodness” until the end. Once again, the material here is fertile ground for humor, but its inspirations are few and far between.

Morally, families need to be aware of the lack of suitability for young children. Potty humor includes a comment about “bats in the belfry” (a double entendre for feces), “shove pickle where the sun doesn't shine,” and an invisible man walks around without pants, scratching his invisible behind and commenting on the “freedom” of public nudity.

In terms of violence, there is comic violence, including a character who gnaws his feet off, a scientist blows up; there is reference to torture and multiple killings throughout; someone is asked to bring the “severed head of a supermodel;” there is a “killoseum,” and there is also a running gag about a character who is immortal but constantly commits suicide (only to be resurrected) because “life is meaningless.”

The story is very dark and far too disturbing for really young children. There were several kids crying in the audience.

All in all, “Igor” was a great idea gone awry. The promising story is not sufficient if the plot is weak and the writing juvenile. I will not call “Igor” bad, for it is not truly bad, but it is far from good, and it is better to save your money on something wholesome and edifying.

Violence: Moderate / Profanity: Minor / Sex/Nudity: Minor


Viewer CommentsSend your comments
Positive
Positive—Igor We really liked this movie, as did our 3, 5, and 6 year olds. The only negative I came across was the suicidal-rabbit who couldn't die. Ultimately, Igor is right-on morally, as he says “We all have an evil bone in our body, we just have to choose not to use it.” It reminded me of a Max Lucado preaching the “3:16” series (now the book The Numbers of Hope) when he said “You don't have to wake up in the morning and choose to do bad…,” we are sinful by nature, we must choose to follow Christ, and do God's will.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Good / Moviemaking quality: 4
Karl K , age 36 (USA)
Neutral
Neutral—I brought my 6 year old son (as did many others) to this show and yes it was pretty negative (like reading ecclesiastes—which I wouldn't read to my son either as he wouldn't understand) Yes, some of the spots were way beyond a six year old and were filled with inuendo, but…

The movie to me portras what can happen to people who are deceived that they can only be or do certain things—in this case—be evil. Igor makes someone (Eva) and even adds the “evil bone” and it wasn't until she is deceived herself and resorts to an evil act that the evil bone activates. But while this is all going on, Igor himself begins to question his evil nature and finds out that the cause of the evilness was at the hands of the king. He sets out to rescue his creation and finds out that above the clouds is beauty. Without spoiling the movie too much, I would say he defeats the darkness and saves the city and it becomes good.

I would say that this is a perfect show for tweens and up but it may be a little too heady for those younger (like trying to explain revelations to a child, hmm… or in Judges chapter 19… I won't spoil the story, but try reading that to a six year old…)
My Ratings: Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 3
Dan Boissonneault, age 46
Negative
Negative—Do not take your child to see. I had my mother and my 10 year with me and thought it would be an innocent “G” rated movie. It was not. It is a very disturbing movie that makes you feel terrible, with all the messages they are giving. When I left, I was sad and angry that MGM would make this movie and feed it to our children as a “G” movie. Don't go.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Extremely Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 1½
Rosalind, age 35
Negative—Parents, this movie communicates a message of pathetic, hopeless creatures that gets slapped around by their masters. Definitely violent, creatures losing their limbs, really evil and tasteless. Use of God's name in vain on more than one occation.

I'm so sorry that I didn't walk out within the first 15 minutes when I picked up on all the “evil” vibe—by the way; the word “evil” is used about 50 times within the first 20 minutes. I'm sick to the stomach to think that our poor poor kids have to be exposed (unknowingly) to this utter nonsensable “entertainment.” It was a total waste of time and money. Even the caracters are displayed as totally evil looking creatures. Not to mention making fun of “blind orphans”! Yes, you bet.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Very Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 2
Leoni, age 32
Negative—Once again Hollywood uses animation to lure unsuspecting children into their web. The thin moral boundaries that children's movies still retain has again been stretched, setting the latest precedent for what should be tolerated by children and their parents in a PG film.

This film is very dark, throughout the characters refer to being evil, to killing, to creating mechanisms that will do the killing for them. Our main character, Igor, is one of these. He longs to be an “evil scientist” and to create the greatest killing/mayhem invention of the year.

The movie portrays the villain-ess in many different ways. In one of her outfits she has a Madonna style pointy chest, in another form she's made to be very voluptuous in a country sweet dress that barely contains her very buxom chest calling such attention to it as to see little else during those scenes. There are several God's name in vain and another four letter word is used once. One of Igor's creations seeks to commit suicide throughout the movie. Several characters die, one invisible character makes constant reference to the fact that he doesn't wear pants and that it's “liberating.” There is also a demeaning and I might add uncharitable song about overweight women and a reference to a woman's period.

None of the characters were endearing in any way as in the way Nemo, Brother Bear, the Incredibles and other movies were truly endearing. In my opinion this movie provides very little if anything to help redeem it.

Sure the sun comes out in the end, but has the evil really disappeared?? I don't think so. In fact, I believe it's sure to rear it's ugly head again in more children's flicks by this producer soon enough, just give them enough time and enough money and there it will be.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 3½
Cynthia Burg, age 38
Negative—When I brought my little boy to this film, I was horrified at the lack of human compassion. Themes like Murder, Evil and Little bunnies Killing themselves were supposed to be funny to little impressionable kids.
My little boy was horrified and started asking my disturbing questions like, “why is it good to be evil,” and “why did the little bunny want to die”?

Sure the ending was pretty and happy, unless you think little blind children singing about how they can see clearly now is funny to you.

Why does a morally void populace like Hollywood have a need to subject the innocent children of the world to awful subjects like suicide and murder as sources of amusement is beyond me.

I know that tonight I will pray with my little boy and hope that God's light will shine down on the morally questionable decisions of these producers.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Very Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 1½
Jebediah, age 35
Comments from young people
Neutral—When I saw “Igor,” I was surprised at how many times they said “Oh my G__.” I was really surprised at them putting the D___ word in there. That is something you don't put in a childrens comedy. I think the actors did a good job. Some personalities surprised me actually. At first I totally thought the message, “It's good to be evil.” and “You need to be evil to be somebody.” was totally wrong. But later I found out that wasn't the message at all. And I really like the line “I'd rather be a good nobody, than a evil somebody.” I think that doesn't just have to do with science, but with our daily lives.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Good / Moviemaking quality: 4½
Randy Ramaswamy, age 12 (USA)
Positive—I saw this movie and I liked it a lot!!! I understand that a lot of you parents went and took your kids to see it, but just like what that Roxanne Peters girl said about Coraline, you should have not taken your kids to see it. I even saw some little kids in the theatre and they were crying!!! The commercials were dark and spooky and I like creepy movies that are PG. Those kids were really scared and I felt bad that some parents would do that. I have also seen kids under age 5 in PG-13 movies!!!… Me and a friend went to see Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and a woman and her 3 year old daughter sat behind us!!!… She was sucking a pacifier, and I felt so bad for that little girl! Sure enough… a little while later she was crying, and they left the theatre. What a waste of money. Do not take your kids to see this!! Go see a G movie instead!
My Ratings: Moral rating: Excellent! / Moviemaking quality: 5
Dawn Quetin, age 12 (Canada)
Positive—I know this movie did not get many good reviews. I think this movie was a little dark, but I took my little sister to see this (she's kind of a ceepy movie fanatic) and she liked a lot. I am not trying to be a black sheep here and make the first move, but I was wondering parents, why would you take your little kids to see this movie? I was hoping you would use a little better judgement. I think you guys need to limit your times to the movies unless a G movie is playing!!! Sorry I am just speaking the truth. All you are doing is letting the devil into your little kids minds. My parents never let us get cable in our house until I was 13! I am kind of thankful for that. I have made smarter decisions from that. Maybe you should about that too. Maybe you have an older child who is stepping away from the bible because of your cable TV. Maybe you should think about taking it out.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Excellent! / Moviemaking quality: 5
Hannah Justino, age 13 (New Zealand)
Negative—This movie was boring most of the time, and I only laughed once. for those who want to be bored to death, I think this movie is appropriate for kids 8+. But seriously, don't waste your money.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 1½
Liliana, age 11 (Canada)
Neutral—I liked it. It was an okay movie. It was funny.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 4½
Joseph, age 12 (USA)