What if aliens lived among us? That’s a question which has been asked many times in literature and film, and usually it involves some sort of alien invasion or at least a first contact attempt to introduce one society to another without an outbreak of war. It’s less common to see extraterrestrial beings in a position of subjugation, determined to be either a threat or undesirable and considered less than the preexisting human population. District 9 envisioned this in a dark way with internment camps and chaos just waiting to break out. Ray Gunn, the latest animated marvel from Netflix, imagines something far more stylized and a little less serious but still just as riveting.
It’s 1939, but not the 1939 we know. Ray Gunn (voiced by Sam Rockwell) is a private detective who’s always willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done, however unscrupulous that might make him. But he’s losing his touch, and he can’t even afford the weaponry that will best set him up for success. His partner is Eyera (voiced by Tom Waits), an alien most recognizable by his one large eye and the trenchcoat that hangs over his very slender body. There are plenty of places that Ray can go which Eyera can’t, but other seedy locations where a human would stick out and an alien wouldn’t. Ray needs all the help he can get when he gets tangled up in something messy with the alluring pop star Venus Nova (voiced by Scarlett Johansson).
The arrival of Ray Gunn is worth anticipating for a number of reasons. Academy Award winner Brad Bird has been working on this idea for years, dating back to before his first feature film, The Iron Giant. In the time since, he’s delivered The Incredibles, Ratatouille, and Incredibles 2, making a firm mark on animation and its evolution. And the best part is that Ray Gunn doesn’t feel anything like those films other than to capture the same kind of movie magic which can only be possible in animation. This feels like a true relic of the past in the best way, but with a cool and subtle sci-fi twist to enhance this intriguing and dark world where Ray is making sure to keep himself entertained while he’s getting involved with – and in the crosshairs of – all the wrong people.
Bird also reteams with seasoned composer Michael Giacchino, who has worked with him on every one of his films except for The Iron Giant. The duo held court at an early press preview in July where they took turns answering questions about what made this world come alive for them and how their working relationship has developed and impacted each other over the course of so many collaborations. While Bird is evidently passionate about this project, Giacchino shared a similar excitement as well as a deep-seated nerdiness that explains why he so often contributes his musical talents to sci-fi projects.
Ray Gunn looks great and feels like a caper, evoking the noir qualities of the era in which it’s set and featuring eye-popping characters and creatures to help the mystery really come alive. Art director Wedell Luebbe, animation director Jason Ryan, and visual effects supervisor Adel Abada were on hand to explain the choices they made and how their storyboards and concepts began and then made it to the finished product. From the footage screened, Rockwell’s signature swagger and nonchalance make his private detective a truly watchable protagonist, and Johansson is getting to do something fun with her out-of-control diva who may be more than meets the eye. This may not be an animated film for all ages due to its storyline and the onscreen violence featured (mostly gunfights and physical altercations), but it’s a well-constructed, inviting, imaginative deep dive that animation fans and sci-fi devotees will surely enjoy.
Ray Gunn will be released in select theaters and limited 70mm on December 4th and on Netflix on December 18th.
