The works of the playfully macabre Tim Burton is evoked in Igor, the latest animation feature which is curiously uninvolving in story and humour, yet packed with subliminal political rhetoric.

Igor is set in the imaginary land of Malaria, a constantly overcast and gloomy world, lit with artificial - mostly pink- light. It is the home to the evil industries sector, so a lot of time is spent in large labs filled with wacky gizmos, cogs, and copious amounts of jars filled with acids and poisons.

One of these labs belongs to Dr. Glickenstein (John Cleese), who along with his assistant Igor (a dull John Cusack, whose voice does not suit the animation medium), is gearing up for the Annual Evil Science Fair.

After Glickenstein is annihilated in a lab accident, Igor seizes the opportunity to finally show his mad scientist chops, and enters the competition. With the help of his last two experiments, dolt brain in a jar, named –aptly enough – Brain (Sean Hayes), and immortal road kill rabbit Scamper (Steve Buscemi, who is given all of the best lines), Igor goes about creating a Frankenstein-esque abomination.

Unfortunately, what Igor ends up with is an innocent sweetheart named Eva (Molly Shannon), who holds strong aspirations to become an actress.

It is at this point that the film begins to pick up a little, as director Anthony Leondis and co. have fun ripping into the film profession, and the pretentious posturing of actors and their diva attitudes.

From then on, Igor’s parable begins to take shape, coming off uglier than any ungodlike creation shown throughout. It was inevitable. The film, after all, was written by Chris McKenna, a scribe on TV animation program American Dad, which along with the Family Guy, was created by staunch Democrat Seth McFarlane.

And so, Igor and friends – playing the ultimate liberal crusaders: the actor – come together to take on the evil hierarchy (the Republicans) of Malaria (United States of America), who have spread fear across the land by keeping its people under faux duress.

For parents into political brain washing, take your kids to Igor. After all, if you want to get them, get them young, and get them through the movies, then this is your film.