What a lovely, lovely movie! Even from just a few shots, it's extremely easy to draw conclusions from the rich scenery, layered with the classic Massachussetts town atmosphere, and the lighting is just so spectacular. I loved the plot, especially the theme (#weirdwins), and the climax definitely was amazing--it offered a fresh take on the outcast trope. The movie is more realistic and grounded, and you could see how modern issues (as well as the actual staff who used to be considered "weird" themselves) affected the plot; it was also sprinkled with horror movie tropes so it's a special treat for horror fans.
Out of all characters, Norman's sister Courtney was the best. Although I don't really care for her personality, her voice actress Anna Kennick expertly makes her come alive and her animation--the expressions and gestures--was absolutely flawless. Norman's personality, conveyed through his words, gait, and gestures, was also lovely--a soft-spoken protagonist in an animated feature for a change! The stop-motion animation sometimes is obvious, especially in the beginning when the characters are lip-syncing, but it adds partly to Paranorman's charm, and it isn't as obvious during high-speed scenes.
The marketing campaign deserves a special mention in this review. Artistically wise, it is perfect and definitely stirs interest among aspiring graphic designers, illustrators, animators, and bloggers--basically the demographic who spends time on the Internet. There have been cases of mysterious presents sent to various adults who were weird as kids, so I'd encourage you to look these up. The LAIKA team is very creative in all aspects of producing and promoting the movie.
I would recommend Paranorman to older children, horror movie fans, stop-motion fans or fans of animation in general, and finally people who felt, or are feeling, like outcasts because they were not considered normal. I think Paranorman really speaks to them, especially the reality of different types of bullying and ostracism. I highly suspect it was inspired by the everlasting issue of bullying, which intensified especially against the LGBTQ youth in September and October 2010. Hence, Paranorman gets 9 stars out of 10 stars for its thoughtful way of dealing with a very real issue, made accessible to an all-ages audience.