I Married a Strange Person!

I Married a Strange Person! is a 1997 animated psychedelic comedy-drama film directed by Bill Plympton. The film features an ensemble voice cast that includes Charis Michelsen, Tom Larson, and Richard Spore, among others. Characterized by its vibrant grayscale animation, mound-breaking visual effects, and black comedic narrative, the film unfurls a strange and stunning blend of surreal imaginations, making for a unique cinematic experience.

The animated film centers around the character of Grant Boyer, voiced by Tom Larson. Boyer is an average American guy leading a mundane life. The film pivots dramatically when he is hit on the neck by a television antenna during a storm. The next morning, he wakes up to discover he has developed extraordinary abilities. There's a quirky twist to the plot - he can replicate any image, animate any object, and even realize any dreams or visions that he imagines. The film's title is inspired by the change in circumstances, as his wife, Kerry, portrayed by Charis Michelsen, grapples with her husband's sudden metamorphosis.

Now, these gigantic abilities do not remain a secret for long, as Grant accidentally delays his wife's commute by transforming a train into a carnival ride, which naturally creates quite a stir. The news of Grant's exceptional power spreads like wildfire, capturing the attention of various entities, each with their unique vested interests.

The nefarious Mink Coat, played by Richard Spore, is an ambitious television tycoon who sees an opportunity to exploit Grant's newfound talent. Mink aims to monopolize the television industry with Grants' abilities, hoping to broadcast his colorful and vivid visions universally, no matter the ethical consequences. This conflict forms the plot's primary arc as Mink's henchmen kidnap Kerry, compelling Grant to assist Mink by exploiting his new powers.

Accompanied by a distinctive style of animation and surreal design, the film morphs usual environmental factors like buildings or automobiles into whimsical, animated characters, rendering abstract concepts like dreams into solid reality. Such a creative approach to the visual narrative compounds the core investigators' comedic elements and making each scene enjoyable in its own right.

Bill Plympton is known for his distinct aesthetic, and I Married a Strange Person! underscores such a convention vigorously. Rather than adhering to the traditional animation format, Plympton uses an edgy animated form to create a fun, abstract world that viscerally reflects the characters' perception with an entertaining, at times racy, narrative. This film also displays an unusually expansive range of facial expressions, granting the animated characters a human-like depth and complexity that refines their relationship with the audience.

The contrast between the voices, including Charis Michelsen's brave and nurturing Kerry and Richard Spore's cruelly ambitious Mink, adds depth to the story and enhances the ambivalent emotions of the characters. Tom Larson, voicing Grant, has a performance that grounds the piece, allowing the audience to connect with the fundamentally ordinary man in very extraordinary circumstances. The fusion of voice acting and animation brilliantly complements the eccentric storyline.

I Married a Strange Person! is a movie that breaks convention, ruthlessly shattering the boundaries of reality and fantasy. It's a film you might not want to watch with the kiddies but which will appeal to adults seeking something different, something edgier. It's a testament to the power of animation as an artistic medium, pushing the envelope of its potential while presenting a strange, thought-provoking narrative, simultaneously engaging, entertaining, and challenging its audience.

Bold in its imagination and brave in its execution, I Married a Strange Person! is not a film for everyone. However, if you're open to a wild ride, unbounded by the constraints of traditional storytelling and ready to embrace the unusual, then this movie is a must-watch.