Wendell and Wild

Its future might ultimately be as a family-friendly Halloween staple, but Wendell and Wild holds more than just seasonal appeal.

This collaboration between socially conscious provocateur Jordan Peele (Get Out) and stop-motion animation legend Henry Selick (The Nightmare Before Christmas) is both visually striking and narratively uneven — a fascinating if convoluted mix of twisted imagery and thoughtful commentary both amusing and frightening in spurts.

Finding an offbeat rhythm without overdosing on quirks, the sharply crafted animated genre hybrid is a stylish showcase with crossover potential.

The story centers on Kat (voiced by Lyric Ross), a teenage outcast still guilt-ridden after her parents died in a car accident. When she returns to her crumbling hometown and enrolls at the local Catholic school, her punk-rock sensibilities don’t mesh.

When a classmate (Sam Zelaya) tries to bond, Kat becomes even more withdrawn: “I don’t do friends,” she explains. “Bad things happen to people I’m close to.”

She finds hope from an unlikely source in Wendell (Keegan-Michael Key) and Wild (Peele), two misfit demons with dreams of returning to life and launching a theme park, but whose loyalties shift easily. Kat figures she can steal their magical hair gel to reincarnate her parents.

Complications ensue, of course, including an unscrupulous priest (James Hong) who is scheming to build a private prison through nefarious means.

Wendell and Wild provide the playful comic relief during an otherwise dark and introspective journey toward self-discovery and closure. Their witty banter — taking advantage of the seamless chemistry between Key and Peele — galvanizes the fantasy sequences, even if it takes a while to tie the various story elements together.

Initially obstinate, Kat finds the right mix of youthful naivete and mature determination to generate sympathy during her life-changing adventure. Added kudos for the diversity and inclusivity in general.

Meanwhile, the distinct CGI-infused, stop-motion animation is noteworthy for the exaggerated character features and meticulous background detail within some vivid world-building that mixes gritty reality with phantasmagorical fantasy.

The screenplay by Peele and Selick offers a coming-of-age story of grief and childhood innocence, while also satirizing more complex topics such as spirituality and the afterlife, corporate greed and political corruption, and the prison-industrial complex.

Combining such disparate ideas comes with tonal awkwardness, yet Wendell and Wild also makes it a wicked visual feast.

Rated PG-13, 105 minutes.