"The Suicide Shop" is the first animated feature from director Patrice Leconte, whose previous work includes films like "Monsieur Hire" or "Man on a Train".
Shop is nowhere near as good, but it's a lighthearted trifle about a family that owns a store that specializes in the instruments of self-destruction. It's also a musical.
When the youngest son decides to embrace life, rather than help people end it, it sets in motion tensions that make the family question themselves and their occupation.
It was described in the post-film Q&A as a marriage of Tim Burton and Jacques Demy. There's also a lot of Charles Addams in it as well -- the father, Mishima, is essentially a Gomez Addams clone.
Unfortunately, it's also a film in 3D. The glasses used in the theatre were produced by Dolby and were the most uncomfortable specs I've had the misfortune to wear. I took them off several times during the screening and found that I could watch the images unaided with little interference, but the subtitles were very fuzzy. Although the French was, for the most part, easy to follow, I did need the subtitles from time to time and had to put the glasses back on. As the film did not particularly rely on a 3D presentation, I can only assume that the decision to show it in 3D is a commercial, rather than aesthetic, decision.
That said, it's a cute little film that's worth seeing (in 2D). Not really a cartoon for kids though -- teenagers would likely be the youngest age group that would enjoy it.
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