Edison & Leo

On the first night of the film fest I went to the Varsity Cinemas for my first screening at the Toronto International Film Festival. I really need to get my timing right cuz I was there 30 minutes too early, there wasn't even a line started for the movie. What we need is like one of those news traffic reports with the helicopter and douche reporter letting everyone know when movie lines are getting too long.

Anyways, enough bitching, off to the movies

Edison & Leo
Directed by Neil Burns

This was a stop motion picture based on a lightly on the story of George T. Edison. This is the Canadian version of the American Lightbulb guy. Everyone who knows me, knows that I love animation. Well all animation except sand animation, that I just can't understand. Anyhoo, during the introduction of the Film the programmer introduced the Director and Producer who wanted it to be known that this is officially the first every stop motion feature film entirely produced in Canada, EVER.

There is a dream like quality to the sets and character designs. There is also something a little robot chickenesque to it also. But where robot chicken goes is over animated, Edison and Leo is more subtle and dashing. Actually, it reminds me a lot of what I have seen from the Moral Oral series.

There are several gags that I found hilarious in this film. Edison has a private locamotive that he uses to travel across Canada. They pull the old Indy map trick with the red line showing how far they have traveled until it suddenly stops. I know i know its the pee joke. But how often do you see it done in stop motion. Well, you don't actually see pee, that would be too far. Its just cute that Edison is a little shocked when he see's the of his man-servant.

Another little fun gag is when Leo has a wet dream. Oh, I guess i haven't explained Leo's condition, due to one of Edison's experiments Leo is not a walking tazer, anything he touches gets electrocuted. So, when he's dreaming of this unattainable hot red head he wakes with a shock with a steam cloud rising from his crotch. Just thought that was pretty funny.

Story wise, its like a twisted fairy tale. Young Leo is cursed and learns how to control it so he can be close to the one he loves. Hilariously, Edison emotionally abuses Leo on this fact, at one point stating he is much better suited to have relations with Leo's girlfriend.

This film would appear to be family friendly, but be prepared to try to explain to your kids about decapitations, sexual situations, and native Canadian culture. That last one is a doozy.

All in all I really enjoyed this film and recommended it to my friends.