FRANKENWEENIE (B+)

Bottom Line: Director Tim Burton is back in top form with this black-and-white, stop-motion-animated tale of a boy and his reanimated dog.  While never quite groundbreaking and containing no real message, FRANKENWEENIE still serves as a delightfully pleasant and wonderfully entertaining reminder that animated movies can – and should – be fun for all ages.  Never too intense or scary for the little ones (my seven year old had a blast and handed it an A-), it still delivers enough of Burton’s creep-happy, creature-heavy, darkly twisted vibe that it’s sure to quickly become a Halloween time classic.  FRANKENWEENIE is alive with imaginative, family friendly fun!

Starring the voices of: Martin Short, Catherine O’Hara, Winona Ryder and Martin Landau
Directed by: Tim Burton (DARK SHADOWS, ALICE IN WONDERLAND, CORPSE BRIDE, EDWARD SCISSORHANDS, SLEEPY HOLLOW, BEETLEJUICE and BATMAN)
Rated: PG
Running time: 87 minutes
Story: After unexpectedly losing his beloved dog Sparky, young Victor harnesses the power of science to bring his best friend back to life—with just a few minor adjustments. He tries to hide his home-sewn creation, but when Sparky gets out, Victor's fellow students, teachers and the entire town all learn that getting a new "leash on life" can be monstrous. (Walt Disney Pictures)

Trailer: www.disney.go.com/frankenweenie