Editor’s Note: This is the second report from our new Big Shiny Robot! Los Angeles correspondent “FrankYaegerBot”. He’ll be covering LA based events for the site as well as regular news and reviews. This is a followup report to his coverage yesterday of the premiere of “Malice in LaLaLand”.
Like any young male ranging from 15 to 50 years of age. When I first read this description, ”Critically acclaimed movie combines animation, live action, hot sex and rock ‘n roll score.” I must admit I was rather enthusiastic to see “Malice In LaLaLand” Chiefly because when I hear animation and adult entertainment in the same sentence, my mind tends to drift to memory of 1981’s animated feature “Heavy Metal”. Which included very adult themes and animated sex scenes. The combination of animation and live action also reminded me of 1983’s live action animated feature “Fire and Ice”. In which the creators layered animation over real people. A very unique feature, it too had adult themes and outside of 2006‘s “A Scanner Darkly”, is the only film of its kind.
Keeping in mind that a majority of the films budget most likely went to shooting on beautiful 35mm film and booking A-list talent like Sasha Grey, Andy San Dimas and Ron Jeremy. It is understandable why this film falls short of this reviewer’s high expectation.
That is not to say that the animation presented in this film dissatisfactory by any means. The quality of animation is completely fitting and comparatively praiseworthy. The opening animation sequence immediately sets the tone and immerses you into its established world. The director, Lew Xypher, uses his industrial music video background to create a slightly dark, weighted tone, which is prevalent throughout the film and greatly compliments the visuals they have created for “Malice’s” LaLaLand.
The soundtrack is distinctly rock and roll, which fits the films atmosphere to a T. It completely suits the adult scenes in terms of pace and rhythm. Though as the movie progresses, the music tends to become a little familiar if not repetitive.
The concept of an adult film adapting Lewis Carrols’s “Alice in Wonderland” and “Through The Looking Glass” is ambitious to say the least but it is pulled of here with illustrious success. An entirely unique vision of Lewis Carrol’s twisted world. Combining, Rock and Roll, Comedy, Cartoon violence, influences from Fear and Loathing in Los Vegas and over the top adult scenes. It is truly like nothing I ever seen in the pantheon of adult film. This is one complete adult flick.
My one draw back is not a lack in quality of animation but in quantity. There are literally two animated sequences in the film. One of which is the opening sequence and a sequence towards the end. I personally would have liked to see more integration of the two mediums.
Though after having spoken with the director, I rest assured in knowing that this was only the beginning. It’s a small step towards the future of animated live action adult entertainment. Out of 5 stars I give this 4 and a half.
“Malice in LaLaLand” is definitely worth watching.