ANOMALISA (***)

(2015) Anomalisa is a beautifully-animated film about a disgruntled, middle-age writer, Michael Stone, who is out of town for a convention to speak on what he's become an expert on: customer service.  It's become his stock and trade, but in reality Michael Stone has stopped connecting with other people, let alone life, and often seems more sad than angry ... all of which finally changes when he meets a young woman staying at the same hotel.  I was so anxious to see this one, based on the trailer and all I'd read, but in truth Anomalisa failed to connect with me in a similar way.  Genuinely beautiful to look at, I don't know if I failed to connect with the deep meaning/messages of the film so many raved about, but for me Michael Stone remained an unlikable lead character who - while I liked the film overall - failed to make me love it.  (rated R)

ANOMALISA trailer