‘Corpse Bride’ rushed, yet charming

After this past summer’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” Tim Burton and Johnny Depp have returned again with “Corpse Bride,” a visual wonder that’s great in its own right, but just doesn’t quite compare to its semi-predecessor, “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”

The movie is about Victor Van Dort, voiced by Johnny Depp, who is set up in an arranged marriage with Victoria Everglot, voiced by Emily Watson. But because of his nerves about the wedding, he is unable to remember his vows. This leads to Victor practicing his vows in the woods where he accidentally places a wedding ring on the wrong finger, and winds up the live groom of the Corpse Bride voiced by Helena Bonham Carter.

At its core the plot is a love triangle — boy is suppose to marry girl who he’s instantly fond of, but somehow accidentally marries another who he becomes gradually fond of — but the movie is still charming enough to get away with it and win you over with its own quirky characters. They manage to add a bit of complexity to the plot and bring in some much needed depth.

For example, you might side with Victor and want him to end back up with Victoria, but on the other hand, the Corpse Bride seems more like the true underdog of the flick, where you want her to win Victor over emotionally. It’s great that she isn’t treated as just another predictable obstacle for Victor to hurdle over in order to get to his original beloved, as character complexity can make for great entertainment.

Animation wise, this stop-motion movie is a gorgeous shadow-tinged piece of delicious eye candy which is what you should come to expect form the same man who brought us “Edward Scissorhands” and the first two “Batman” flicks. And the setting’s macabre nuances and dark gothic style buildings are a nice change of pace from the sunny-side-up computer animation style abundant in films today.

The soundtrack doesn’t fail. Running the musical gamut from upbeat, feel-good ragtime to blue and moody, each song is a perfect complement to the different emotional points in the plot.

Yet while Burton’s latest foray into animation deserves praise, it isn’t without faults. Time is a small factor, as the movie only clocks in at 77 minutes. Keep in mind that this is only a minor fault, but perhaps the film could have fleshed out a few points with the plot.

For example, more time could have logically progressed Victor and Victoria’s romance instead of providing a typical “love at first talk” meeting. And the final scene with the Corpse Bride’s revealed murderer could have been gradually built up to with greater suspense.

Is the film better than its classic cousin “The Nightmare Before Christmas”? Beyond visuals, it simply isn’t. But for a short trip into Burton’s head, it’s easily worth the $8.50.

Grade: B