Norman is voiced by Kodi Smit-McPhee (left) and Alvin is voiced by Christopher Mintz-Plasse in the 3-D stop-motion film "ParaNorman." | Focus Features photo
"ParaNorman" features the voice of Kodi Smit-McPhee as Norman. | Focus Features photo
"ParaNorman" characters: Grandma Babcock (from left, voice of Elaine Stritch), Sandra Babcock (voice of Leslie Mann), Perry Babcock (voice of Jeff Garlin), Norman (voice of Kodi Smit-McPhee) and Courtney (voice of Anna Kendrick). | Focus Features photo
"ParaNorman," which opens on the big screen Aug. 17, features the voice of Kodi Smit-McPhee as Norman. | Focus Features photo
★★ The stop-motion animated “ParaNorman” unfolds tragically with so much drawing for such an unworthy script. The labor necessary to create a film like “ParaNorman” is colossal. Tens of thousands of facial expressions were drawn. 3-D printers (a new advancement in stop motion pioneered here) …