Kubo (Art Parkinson) lives a peaceful life in foregone Japan as a storyteller who uses magic origami to recall tales of mysticism and bravery to nearby villagers. After accidentally summoning an ancient evil, Kubo embarks on his own adventure to track down mythic artifacts supposedly capable of slaying the sinister forces.
If this sounds familiar, that's because it is. 'Kubo' relies heavily on common story beats. There isn't anything wrong with that either. There's enough creative mojo flowing through this film to forge an identity all its own. The story mostly suffers when it blazes its own path. A lot of its mythology is explained while some of it isn't, which may leave elder viewers feeling as if they've missed something.
Eventually, Kubo joins forces with an obstinate talking monkey (Charlize Theron) and, ironically, a quick-witted yet forgetful samurai-bug (Matthew McConaughey). While all three are strong characters in their own right, it's McConaughey's quirky insect warrior who stands out as the hilarious comic relief, even though a lot of the childish humor seemingly undermines the ancient, mythological setting established early on.
Kubo's travels teach him important lessons about family, faith, and legacy. While these messages are important for youngsters, parents may walk out looking like Rudolph after how frequently the cheesy dialogue hits them on the nose with these morals.
The best thing about 'Kubo' is that despite the clunky, obvious script, it's never dull. Laika's hyper-stylized technical prowess combined with strong performances and an innocent sense of joy help balance out the more uneven elements, making Kubo and the Two Strings definitely worth your time.
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