MPAA Rating: PG, for some thematic elements, scary images, action and mild language
Genre: Animated/Family/Comedy
Age range: Ages 5 and up
Runtime: Approx. 86 minutes
Starring: (voices of) John Cusack, Steve Buscemi, John Cleese, Jennifer Coolidge, Arsenio Hall, Sean Hayes, Eddie Izzard, Jay Leno, James Lipton, Molly Shannon, Christian Slater
Studio: MGM Studios
Release Date: September 19, 2008
Igor - Summary
The evil land of Malaria was once a happy place, until heavy storm clouds moved in one day and never left. All soon fell into darkness and ruin, but King Malbert came up with a plan to bring back prosperity -- every year, Malaria would hold and evil science fair, and the winner's invention would be used to extort huge sums of money from the rest of the world. Thus, mad scientists gained power, and it became customary that all hunchbacks be sent to Igor school, where they become experts in the art of "yes master" and train to assist the scientists in their evil work.
One Igor, however, aspires to rise above the hunch on his back and win the science fair with his own invention, so when his master is unexpectedly blown out of the picture, Igor gets to work. With the help of his two previous experiments gone awry -- Brain, an unintelligent brain in a jar, and Scamper, a suicidal but immortal bunny brought back from being road kill -- Igor creates the monster of his dreams.
Igor's monster is huge and hideous. The problem is, she turns out to be a good-hearted soul who dreams of being an actress. Igor uses this desire against her by telling her that the science fair is an audition for a role, and that she must act evil and destructive to get the part. Eva's kind nature soon opens Igor's eyes to the opposite side of evil, however, and when he later learns the truth about Malaria's storm clouds, he realizes that being the evil capital of the world is not all it's cracked up to be. Igor determines to set things right, but can an Igor really change anything?
Igor - Guide Review
Igor started out with a promising premise -- a disgruntled lab Igor creating his own invention and learning about kindness and love. The presentation, however, is lacking. The animation of the movie is somewhat interesting and fits the dark storyline, but the story drags on, and the characters are likable -- but not lovable. The movie also contains unnecessary elements that might keep parents from taking kids to see the movie.
Various elements of this dark and monster-filled movie may be scary or unsettling to kids. The movie contains scary-looking characters, and references to evil, murder, and torture are abundant. Igor's master is blown up by his own invention, and his mechanical looking arm (all that is left of him) turns up a couple of times during the show. Scamper undergoes physical wounds that would kill a normal creature, but he is immortal so he doesn't die (which is a "hassle for him because he doesn't want to live"). Some characters are degraded, hit, beaten, chased with axes, sent to go through the "grinder," and more.
And, what's a good monster movie without sexual innuendo and language as well? The evil Dr. Schadenfreude's sexy girlfriend, Jaclyn, changes form, acts as the girlfriend of each of his competitors, and helps Dr. Schadenfreude steal their inventions. She and Schadenfreude get into a couple of heated arguments, slap their Igor around to vent, and then come together in a heated make-up embrace. She also becomes "Heidi," a buxom dutch girl, and tries to seduce Igor, kissing him in front of Eva to make her jealous.
One character in the movie exclaims "Damn it!" Various characters use the phrase "my God," or variations of it, too many times to count.
*For more detailed examples of this movie's content, please see the overview below.Igor - Content Overview
The following lists a few of the most prominent examples of possibly offensive content in the movie (may contain spoilers):Violence (High)
- Dr. Glickenstein abuses Igor, throwing him across the floor. Other Igors in the movie are slapped and hit with objects. Disobedient Igors are threatened with the grinder, where they will be killed. Igor is taken to the grinder, and he, Scamper and Brain dangle by their feet as they are moved toward clamping saw-like jaws (they escape). Dr. Glickenstein is blown up by his invention. We don't see his body explode, but only his mechanical-looking arm is left.
- Scamper is immortal, and several things happen to him like a card blows up in his face, a hole is blown through his head, his hand is cut of and his feet are cut off, but he regenerates and is fine.
- Igor takes Eva to get "brainwashed" to be an ax murderer. After Brain messes up the process, Igor chases him with an ax, but does not actually hurt him.
- Dr. Schadenfreude activates Eva's "evil" bone. She goes into a large stadium and fights all of the other scientists' inventions. King Malbert threatens the rest of the world that she will be unleashed upon them if they don't pay a huge sum of money.
Sex/Nudity (Medium)
- Jaclyn seduces scientists for Dr. Schadenfreude. Her seductions are not shown, except in the case of Igor, when she kisses him. She and Schadenfreude get into fights, hit their Igor, then come together in a heated embrace.
- Some female characters wear dresses that show cleavage.
Language (Medium)
- The word "damn" is used.
- The phrase "My God" or variations is used numerous times.
Alcohol/Drugs (Low)
- Two characters in a hot tub hold drinks, but they are not known to be alcoholic.
Bad/Disrespectful Behavior (High)
- Evil scientists create inventions that will kill and destroy.
- Malarians celebrate murder and torture.
- Jaclyn uses her looks to manipulate.
Scary Scenes (High)
- Scenes listed under violence may be scary for young kids.
- When Eva becomes "alive," she storms out of the lab and enters a building full of "blind orphans." Screaming is heard, but it turns out she is playing with them.
- Dr. Schadenfreude chases Igor and company shooting at them with a shrink ray. He steals Eva and causes her to be evil.
Sad/Unsettling Scenes (Low)
- Eva is sad to think that Igor lied to her and created her to be evil.
