Review of 'HOGFATHER'

HOGFATHER:

In far distant space is a planet shaped like a flat circle. It rests on the backs of four elephants that stand on the shell of a massive tortoise that swims through space (presumably near a star). This is discworld, the creation of Terry Pratchett, who has written more than thirty novels about this strange place.  Life on discworld is similar, but not quite the same as on Earth. The Hogfather is a typical example. Every year, on Hogswatch eve, this jolly, red-suited man with a snout and tusks like a hog travels in a sleigh drawn by four flying boars to deliver presents throughout the world.

Other characters in the story include:

Auditors, ghost-like creatures who want to kill Hogfather.

Mr. Teatime (four syllables, please, or he gets upset), the professional assassin hired for the job. Teatime sounds like a psychopathic version of Johnny Depp's benignly schizophrenic Willy Wonka.

Death, a pleasant and courteous skeleton with bright blue pinprick eyes who is trying to save Hogfather because if people don't believe in Hogfather, the sun won't rise the next morning. Death dresses up as Hogfather with a red suit, but he has difficulty with the ho-ho-ho's and can't understand why rich children get more toys than poor ones.

Susan, Death's adopted granddaughter. Though adopted, she still has some of grandpop's traits. She does not suffer fools gladly.

The Tooth Fairy, actually a whole franchise of young women who take teeth and leave money. The real Tooth Fairy is the reformed bogeyman.

Bilious, the god of hangovers, in a Roman toga.

The verrucas gnome, the hair-loss god, and various other minor deities.

           

As for plot, let me just say it's complicated and doesn't always make sense. The music is appropriately funny and sinister in turn. Towards the end, the movie slows and gets a bit preachy, but it isn't too bad.

Like other films reviewed here, Hogfather is not for everyone. If you aren't familiar with Terry Pratchet and if you like satire, this movie is a good introduction to the Discworld. I rate it ++++.  It gets my pulse up as much as a run. If you see it, let me know what you think.