Edward Scissorhands

Hurray for Tim Burton! He did it! He won me over once and for all. The director has failed me several times – the laughable Planet of the Apes remake, Big Fish (gets worse every new time I see it, though still recommended for casual fun), etc.. Then I saw Ed Wood last December. That was a thrilling movie. I had a great feeling after watching that movie. I had the same great feeling as the credits after Edward Scissorhands began to run.

Edward Scissorhands was such a treat after having just watched Alien Resurrection. The lift in spirits was so big because they had been so low. Scissorhands is a sweet, melancholy “fable” (as Winona Ryder said in the featurette on the DVD). It captures the feeling of teenage angst in someone who appears impossible to relate to. The outsider mentality is ever present. Besides the theme of being not only the new kid, but also the weird kid, the film lightly skewers suburbia with its fake people and air of goodness.

The movie is funny, too. Hijinks ensue. Well-written hijinks minus the familiar The O.C. plink, plink, plunk of the keyboard.

I couldn't really have predicted what would have happened just by the premise and DVD cover. The film takes a interesting approach to fantasy, placing its eerie hero within the confines of the pristine suburb of Nameless Town. What follows sticks closely to what could have been a great Hughes' teen comedy of the 80's, but infuses it with wonder and pathos (though you gotta love the pathos of Hughes' best films). In fact, frequent Hughes' favorite Anthony Michael Hall appears as a high school jerk.

The performances are mostly all noteworthy. I was surprised to see how much Johnny Depp could do with so little dialogue. The performance never really breaks for air. He lives in the pale skin and makes it real for the audience. Big props should be given to Alan Arkin and Dianne Wiest for their portrayals of genuinely pleasant suburban parents. I loved all the advice and lessons Arkin tried to hand out to Edward. Funny stuff. Listening to him treat Edward as a son was funny to watch. Needless to say, there was no family resemblance. Zing!

Winona Ryder mostly rescued herself from my wrath after her deplorable performance in Alien Resurrection. Again, I was aware of her awkwardness as an actress, but I like the woman. She did solid work in Scissorhands, playing the John Hughesesque popular dream girl with more depth than her pretty face seems to suggest.

The music by Danny Elfman was much appreciated as well. An eerie loveliness, much a kin to Eward Scissorhands himself, was communicated through the score. I loved the ahhhh's of the choir.

Bravo for the ending. Sweetly sad. Much loved.

****