Film Review - "The Wild Robot"

Lot of animated films about robots coming out lately...

The Wild Robot
Directed by Chris Sanders

Starring Lupita Nyong'o, Pedro Pascal, and Kit Connor

Based on the book by Peter Brown, The Wild Robot tells the story of a service robot, ROZZUM Unit #7134, or "Roz" for short (Nyong'o) who becomes stranded on an island devoid of humanity. Roz stumbles across the egg of an orphaned baby goose. The baby, a runt, hatches and imprints on the robot, seeing her as his mother. Roz is built to serve and assist, and makes it her mission to raise this goose, later named Brightbill (Connor) and teach him to survive in the wild.

That's the basis of this beautiful, deeply-layered film from Writer-Director Chris Sanders, who has previously brought us the likes of Lilo & Stitch and How To Train Your Dragon. There's so much to take away here, for both kids and adults. The Wild Robot is rich with themes of nature vs nurture, overcoming adversity, blood family, found family, parenting, community, and acceptance. It's a film that audiences are able to walk away with something new after every viewing. 

The film also has a lot of dark humor which I got a kick of, and apparently a lot of the young kids in my theater did too. It's nice to see animated films not play down to children. The film gives off vibes of a Don Bluth film or classic Disney works, which isn't surprising since Sanders got his start with the latter. The visuals and aesthetic can drum up memories of Bambi or The Fox & The Hound, and it's easy to draw comparisons to Wall-E or Big Hero Six. However The Wild Robot is so much more than that...like if 

Bambi and Wall-E had a baby, and that baby was raised by Baymax from Big Hero 6.

All that being said, the film has its own unique look and is absolutely gorgeous. The scenery and background almost look hand-painted. The way they play with colors and lighting is stunning. There is so much iconic imagery that made me go "I want to try and draw that shot." Roz's design is very sleek and simplistic, but how the lighting plays into her programming is what takes it to the next level. All the animals have a very classic "Dreamworks" look to them but their textures and movements make them deceptively look hand-drawn at times.

This is a very personal side-note, but when the first trailer for this film dropped, I was very intrigued because it had no dialogue, and the idea of a mainstream animated film with minimal dialogue excited me. I should've realized that wasn't the case right away, because they list all the famous voice actors at the end of that exact trailer. As more marketing for the film came out, they naturally started to show the animal characters talking, which I have no problem with. That's a trait hundreds of animated films share, many of which I love. The idea of one that deviated from the norm just intrigued me. Hell, I think not having the animal characters talk was one of Pocahontas's greatest strengths.

Regardless, I think the way this film allows the animals to talk is very clever, and the film is all the better for the fact that they talk. Not an animal in the film, but Lupita Nyong'o is perfect as Roz, balancing the technological and the emotional aspects of the character. Pedro Pascal disappears into Fink and gives a very charming performance as only he can. Kit Connor is a real standout as Brightbill, capturing the true essence of a young man (or goose) going through growing pains. It's just as much his film as it is Nyong'o's/Roz's.

The supporting cast is delightful. Catherine O'Hara is per usual both sweet and sassy as a mother opossum, and her babies steal a lot of scenes. Matt Berry has some fun moments as a beaver named Paddler. Ving Rhames pops up for a brief but delightful scene as a falcon who helps teach Brightbill to fly (If I had a nickel for every time Ving Rhames showed up unexpectedly in a 2024 animated film...) Bill Nighy is recognizable but nonetheless iconic as Longneck, an elder goose. I won't spoil Mark Hamill's character as I was waiting the whole film for him to show up, but when he does...it's great.

Composer Kris Bowers knocks it out of the park with the score. The music is so powerful, and reminiscent of John Powell's work in How To Train Your Dragon. I want this film to be nominated (and maybe win) Best Animated Feature at the Oscars this year, but I hope Bowers gets recognized too. This is a score worthing buying on vinyl.

The Wild Robot may just be one of Dreamworks Animations' best films yet. It's familiar but so powerful, and beautiful. I highly recommend seeing this one on the big screen with your families. Audiences of all ages can walk out with a smile of this one. In a year where we've already had the emotional gut-punch of Inside Out 2, the delightful surprise of Transformers One, and now this, it looks like this could be the first year in a while where there is no clear animated frontrunner come awards season...and that excites me. 

Animation. Is. Cinema...

The Best Animated Films You (Probably) Haven't Seen

These are troubling, uncertain times. Everything is shut down, from schools to movie theaters. For weeks now we've all been stuck inside, undoubtedly running out of options on how to keep busy. What to read, what to do, and what to watch.

I'm sure many of you and your families are running out of viewing options, and really there's only so many times you can watch Frozen 2 with the kids without losing a touch of sanity. Luckily, there's a plethora of animated films out there that aren't from Disney or Pixar. So I wanted to present some options for you to consider, if you feel like venturing beyond the realm Disney Plus.

Here's, in my opinion, The Best Animated Films You (Probably) Haven't Seen!


The Road to El Dorado
DreamWorks Animation. Released March 31, 2000
Directed by Don Paul & Eric "Bibo" Bergeron
Starring Kevin Kline, Kenneth Branagh, and Rosie Perez

El Dorado was one of the few traditionally animated films Dreamworks produced before Shrek-fever took over and they went full-CGI. It tells the story of Tulio & Miguel (Kline & Branagh), two con-artists in the 1500s, who after being locked up as stowaways on Hernan Cortez's ship, embark on a quest to discover El Dorado, the Lost City of Gold. Of course they do find the legendary city, and the citizens mistake them as gods. Thus begins their ultimate con, and test of their friendship.

It's a really fun film with gorgeous traditional animation. It's premise is akin to the Bob Hope & Bing Crosby Road To...series. It's a great adventure, and a heartwarming story of friendship. The script was also written by Ted Elliot & Terry Rossio, who's other credits include Aladdin, Pirates of the Carribean, and Shrek. The characters/performances are absolutely delightful. Kline and Branagh are such a great match as the leads. There's also music from Hans Zimmer and songs from Elton John. It's not Lion King level work but it's still pretty good. The Road To El Dorado is a fun ride, that definitely deserves more attention than it gets.


Megamind
Dreamworks Animation. Released November 5, 2010
Directed by Tom McGrath
Starring Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, and Jonah Hill

It's been ten years since two particular animated films came out. Despicable Me and Megamind, both of which tell a story of a super-villain turning over a new leaf, and with the benefit of hindsight, I'm just going to say it. I think the wrong one got a franchise. Megamind (Ferrell) is a supervillain constantly at odds with his nemesis Metro Man (A too cool Brad Pitt). Things take a turn though when somehow Megamind manages to defeat and kill Metro Man. Now without a superhero to fight, Megamind feels he has lost his purpose in life. So he sets out to create a new hero to battle with, and inadvertently ends up creating a villain worse than he ever was.

How much you enjoy Will Ferrell might factor in how much you'll enjoy this film, but I find Megamind to be one of his greatest performances. His voice and gravitas is perfect for the cocky, oddball antihero. The rest of the voice cast is pretty great, from Tina Fey as News Reporter Roxanne Ritchie, Jonah Hill as dimwitted cameraman Hal Stewart, and Brad Pitt as Metro Man. The animation is pretty good for Dreamworks, but visually it's not their most striking. I would say though it is one of their funnier films. It's a nice twist on the superhero genre, but at its heart is a story about self-worth and taking control of your identity. Oh and while there is a character named Minion (David Cross), he's not yellow, shaped like a Tic-Tac, and has actual dialogue...


Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie
Dreamworks Animation. Released June 2, 2017
Directed by David Soren
Starring Ed Helms, Kevin Hart, and Thomas Middleditch

Speaking of superheroes...School shutdown or not, I just know there are still kids out there reading Dav Pilkey's amazing book series. The first Captain Underpants film (and I pray not the last) is for true fans of the books, those reading them now or who read them when they were young. The script captures the imagination of Pilkey's world perfectly, but there's plenty of quirky humor and heartfelt moments for those new to Captain Underpants to enjoy. Also the animation is like the book illustrations come to life.

For the uninitated, Captain Underptants tells the story of two boys, George & Harold (Hart & Middleditch) who enjoy playing pranks and drawing comic books. When their principal Mr. Krupp (Helms) finally catches them in the act of a prank, he threatens to put them in separate classes forever. Refusing to accept their punishment, George & Harold hypnotize Mr. Krupp (with a mail-order 3D Hypno-Ring) to change his mind. The boys then have a little fun and turn him into their comic-book creation, Captain Underpants. Their trouble really begins when Mr. Krupp/Captain Underpants runs off to "fight crime", and they have to protect him from harm.

While this one might sound a little ridiculous, and more for the younger kids, it's a sweet look at the power of friendship, and how friendship can evolve over time. It will definitely trigger some nostalgia  in older viewers, and I'm pretty confident they'll end up chuckling at some of the gags. Captain Underpants is a silly, creative animated romp, and I'm really hoping for some sequels.
(Original Review)


Rio
Blue Sky Studios. Released April 15, 2011
Directed by Carlos Saldanha
Starring Jessie Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, and Jermaine Clement

I've already written down my thoughts about Rio a few times, so I'll keep it brief. It's the story of the last two Blue macaws left in the world, who are put together in hopes they will mate and save their species. Blu (Eisenberg) is house-pet from Minnesota who never learned how to fly. Jewel (Hathaway) lives wild and free in Brazil and wants to keep it that way. Naturally the two don't get along at first. But after being separated from their caretakers in Rio, they have to work together to find their way back, and slowly start growing closer together. It's a cliche' love story, but the characters are all lovable and Eisenberg's Blu is easy to root for. The animation is top-notch and the soundtrack is pretty great, with some real jams on it. Rio is a great watch for the whole family, and a nice reminder that Blue Sky can produce something other than a sub-par Ice Age sequel.
(Original Review)
(Ranked #8 in my Top Films of 2011)


The Pirates: Band of Misifts
Aardman Animation/Sony Pictures Animation. Released April 27, 2012
Directed by Peter Lord
Starring Hugh Grant, David Tennant, and Martin Freeman

If you've ever enjoyed Wallace & Gromit or Chicken Run, then you should definitely check out this swashbuckling, mad-cap comedy about a bumbling Pirate Captain (Grant) on a quest to win the Pirate of The Year Award. Along the way, he and his crew make a friend in Charles Darwin (Tennant), and a powerful enemy in Queen Victoria (Imelda Staunton). This film is Aardman at its best, from the animation to the humor. This film is so entertaining, and the cast is stacked. Hugh Grant is iconic as The Pirate Captain. David Tennant is adorkable as Charles Darwin. Martin Freeman is charming as Number Two, and Brendan Gleeson is hilarious as the Pirate with Gout. The Pirates: Band of Misfits is the definition of underrated. It's a true gem of stop-motion animation.
(Ranked #7 in my Top Films of 2012)


Corpse Bride
Warner Bros. Released October 7, 2005.
Directed by Tim Burton
Starring Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, and Emily Watson

Tim Burton fans should definitely check out one of his best films. Victor Van Dort (Depp) lives in a small, dull village in Victorian England. He's shy, timid, and his family has arranged for him to be married to the lovely Victoria (Watson) whom he's just met. After a disastrous wedding rehearsal, Victor strolls into the woods to practice his vows...and unknowingly proposes to a Corpse Bride (Carter), who accepts and carries him off to the Land of The Dead.

Tim Burton has always been great at world-building, and he builds a fantastical one here, from the bland and grey Land of the Living, to the vibrant and color Land of the Dead (Such a good contrast). Stop-motion animation fans, this is a feast for the eyes. Lovers of Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas will definitely want to check this one out (Sometimes, I think Corpse Bride might be better than it...). The music by usual Burton composer Danny Elfman is beautiful, and the voice cast is full of regular members of Burton's troupe who help to bring this unique story to life (Heh...). Corpse Bride is peak Tim Burton. It's his usual blend of off-beat and gorgeous, and one of his more original and creative works. It's a must-see for animation fans.


Cloudy with A Chance of Meatballs
Sony Pictures Animation. Released September 18, 2009
Directed by Phil Lord & Chris Miller
Starring Bill Hader, Anna Farris, and James Caan

The fact that this one was brought to life by the same guys who gave us The Lego Movie and Spider-Man: Into The Spiderverse should be enough of a reccomendation, but I'll carry on. Based on the same named children's book by Judi Barrett, Cloudy focuses on Flint Lockwood (Hader) a struggling inventor and outcast in the town of Swallow Falls. One day his "Flint Lockwood Diatonic Super Mutating Dynamic Food Replicator" (FLDSMDFR) goes haywire, but ends up raining delicious food all over town, making him an overnight success. Fame starts to go to his head as he starts making all the town's culinary wishes comes true, and it isn't long before his machine starts creating problems...

This one's whacky but is chock-full of heart and laugh out-loud moments. The animation style is so unique and comical, only amplifying the comedy throughout. The voice cast is incredible. Not just Hader, Farris, and Cann, but Andy Samberg, Neil Patrick Harris, Mr. T (as like, the best character in the film) and even more than them. As entertaining as the film is, it also carries a nice message about being true to yourself, and never giving up on your dreams. Hilarious, endearing, and showcasing a spectacular cast, Cloudy with A Chance of Meatballs is another great example of taking a simple children's book and expanding on it for the big screen (successfully).



Cats Don't Dance
Warner Bros. Released March 26, 1997
Directed by Mark Dindal
Starring Scott Bakula, Jasmine Guy, and John Rhys-Davies

Here's one I'd be surprised that a lot of people remember seeing. Cats Don't Dance is an animated musical taking place in the 1930s, focusing on Danny (Bakula), a personified cat who travels to Hollywood to make it big in the pictures (A cat becoming famous? Well looking at the internet nowadays that should be fairly easy!) Well in this version of the Golden Age of Hollywood, there's a sort of prejudice against animals, and they can only get bit parts. Ever the optimistic, Danny sets out to shake the system and help the studios see his and other animal performers' talents.

So think Zootopia meets Singin' In The Rain. It's actually a pretty clever premise. The animation is simple but personable, like old Looney Toons or Chuck Jones work. The music is pretty nice (It's by Randy Newman but don't worry he doesn't sing any of it). "Danny's Arrival Song" has been stuck in my head for twenty-three years. The characters are all likeable, but the one who stands out the most is the villain, Darla Dimple, a sadistic caricature of Shirley Temple. Cats Don't Dance is a little cheesy at times, but it's a fine animated film that's a clever send-up to the Golden Age of Hollywood. It's sweet and has nice themes. It might not become a new favorite, but I think you'll enjoy giving it a watch.


A Boy Named Charlie Brown
Cinema Center Films/Warner Bros. Released December 4, 1969.
Directed by Bill Melendez
Starring Peter Robbins, Pamela Ferdin, and Glenn Gilger

Charlie Brown, do you know who that is? I jest. Chuck, Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang have had a total of five feature films (The last one coming out in 2015, and I honestly debated putting it on here as well because that film was a treasure and deserves more attention), but I opted to go with their first. A Boy Named Charlie Brown has Charlie Brown (Robbins) struggling with his recent string of failures, feeling he'll never succeed at everything. One day, he reluctantly enters the school spelling bee, and ends up winning. That sounds like a happy ending, but it doesn't stop there. Now Charlie Brown must go compete in the National Spelling Bee Championship in New York City. He travels to NYC with Linus (Gilger) and Snoopy (Melendez) to prepare for the championship.

That's all I want to say on the story, because the ending is so bittersweet. I wouldn't want to rob new viewers of the experience, but the film is over 50 years old and I guess if you know Charlie Brown you could figure it out from there. The animation is typical Peanuts faire. It's simple but clever. There are extended, stylized, musical sequences that give off a Fantasia vibe. The film might not hold younger viewers attention too well.

Could I say this is the best of the Peanuts films...maybe? I honestly couldn't tell you if I ever saw Bon Voyage or Race For Your Life. But I do think it's the most important. Not just because it's the first, but because how powerful its message is. Failure is not final. Even in our darkest, most painful moments, it's not the end of the world. We still have the strength to get up, and keep trying. It's okay to fail, but it's not okay to give up. That's something kids and adults all need to be reminded of from time to time. Charlie Brown has stood the test of time because so many of us can relate to his trials and tribulations. We all have been in his position. We've all felt like we can't win and wanted to throw in the towel, but like Charlie Brown we have to dig deep, hold onto hope, and keep moving forward.

I didn't mean to go on a tangent about this old Charlie Brown film. This is the second time I've written a list that's dissolved into a rant about a Peanuts film. A Boy Named Charlie Brown is not a perfect film and I don't even think it's the best film I've listed here...but I do think it's one of the most important, because of what it teaches. It is a perfect representation of what Charlie Brown is, and while you can find that in other Peanuts films and specials, here I think it's at its strongest and most resonating.

...Alright, thanks for sticking around. I'll give you some deep-cut Disney recommendations as a bonus.

Fun & Fancy Free: One of the few package features Disney released during World War II. The first of the two shorts is "Bongo", which is like a spiritual sequel to Dumbo, about a circus bear who escapes to the wild, falls in love, etc.  The second is "Mickey & The Beanstalk" which as you know is "Jack & The Beanstalk" but starring Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck & Goofy. It's such an upbeat, positive film, with catchy music and appearances from Jiminy Cricket and Edgar Bergen.

The Aristocats: The last film Walt signed off on before his death. When a greedy butler learns his wealthy employer will leave her fortune to her cats before him, he kidnaps and abandons them in the Parisian countryside. They befriend a charming alley cat who offers to help them get home. It's light-hearted, a ton of fun, and features a couple of really great songs.

The Great Mouse Detective: Basil of Baker Street (Barrie Ingham), a mouse version of Sherlock Holmes, takes on the case of a kidnapped toymaker, uncovering a sinister plot to take over the country, masterminded by his arch nemesis, Professor Ratigan (Vincent Price). An exhilirating, top-notch myserty/adventure that set the stage for the Disney Renaissance.

That's all for now. Hopefully I got you interested in checking out some films on this list. Some you may have never heard of, or some you have heard of, and now want to give a second look. Happy Binging, and Stay Safe.

Film Review - "How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World'

How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
Directed by Dean DeBlois
Starring Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, and Cate Blanchett

I cried. Ugly cried. A lot. And it's not the last time a film will do that to me this year I assure you. I just want to get that off my chest.

How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World is a wonderful film that brings this trilogy to an amazing, heartfelt conclusion. The film takes place a year after its predecessor. Hiccup (Baruchel), Toothless and friends work endlessly rescuing dragons from trappers, and bringing them back to their home. The Island of Berk has become a wonderful yet overcrowded viking-dragon utopia.

Due to the surplus population, Hiccup wishes to the find The Hidden World, the mysterious homeland of dragons. His dreams however will soon have to be made a reality. A group of warlords, wishing to control the alpha dragon, Toothless, and therefore all dragons, hire dragon hunter Grimmel The Grisly (F. Murray Abraham) to capture him. After Grimmel pays a not-so nice visit to The Island of Berk, Chief Hiccup convinces the citizens of Berk to abandon their home on a quest to The Hidden World. Thus begins a mass exodus of dragons and vikings. Meanwhile, Toothless falls in love with the mysterious dragon know as the Light Fury.

The story is simple and in some ways, you know where it's going to land, this being the last film of the series. That's because this trilogy has been carefully plotted from the beginning, and it doesn't hurt any less when the credits start to roll. God it hurts so much but I love it…The relationship between Hiccup and Toothless has been scripted so well across three films. We've seen them work and grow together, and this film deals with how their friendship can survive as life pulls them in different directions. It's an incredibly relatable and emotional story.

The animation in this series has always been spectacular but my God, how much has the technology changed the past ten years. This film is gorgeous. I saw this on a large-format screen and I was in awe at every detail, from the scales on the dragons, the sands on the beaches, to the clouds in the skies. I almost began to question if what I was watching was live-action. The shots where there are hundreds of different types of dragons are incredible, with so many different designs on screen. The filmmakers got really creative illustrating so many distinct looking creatures at once. It's almost sensory overload.

This series has always had one of the best-assembled voice-casts for an animated film. Jay Baruchel once again gives an amazing heartfelt performance as Hiccup combined with his style of dry humor. America Ferrera and Cate Blanchett provide plenty of warmth and wisdom in their supporting roles. The supporting cast is again very funny but not overused. Actually, weirdly, TJ Miller's Ruffnut gets a lot of attention. Well, he's not voiced by TJ Miller anymore, instead comedian and impersonator Justin Rupple took his place, because of Miller's…many issues. Rupple does a good job recreating his voice, but it's still just a weird story choice to give Ruffnut more screen time. Maybe because Baruchel and Miller co-starred in She's Out Of My League, so it seemed like a good idea at the time? Jonah Hill's Snotlout of Kit Harrington's Eret maybe would have worked better for the role, but I guess Miller had already done all of his dialogue and they already completed the animation, so they worked with what they had and Rupple just did an ADR performance. Anyway, I've already given too much attention to this minor detail.

Let's talk about the film's villain Grimmel. Abraham gives a very sinister and likable performance, and to be honest, this was the first time in a long time as a viewer, I saw a villain in animated film as an actual threat (Recent Disney & Pixar villains don't count because they're always hiding until the third-act). The scene where he and Hiccup first meet is actually chilling. However, his motivations are kinda thin. He's out for power over dragons, much like Drago in How To Train Your Dragon 2, though I'm not sure which character works more as a villain. At the end of the day, he's just an adversary for Hiccup and Toothless to defeat. At the same time however, he's a very real antagonist. He sees a species/type of creature (dragons) he doesn't like or understand, therefore wishes to control and/or eradicate them. That's actually pretty resonating for our times. You know what? Maybe he is a good villain…

Last thing I want to say is that John Powell, the man behind the music for the whole trilogy, once again delivers a powerhouse soundtrack. Honestly, I kind of want to sue him for the emotional attack his music inflicted on me. Those who have seen the film, know what I'm talking about.

How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World is a beautiful conclusion to perhaps one of the best film trilogies of all time. It stands toe-to-toe with the Toy Story trilogy, which many consider to be the gold standard of an animated film trilogy…Yes I know there's a fourth one out in a few months, and a fourth How To Train Your Dragon is always a possibility because Hollywood. These films will stand the test of time due to their powerful themes of growing up, sacrifice, loss, and the relationships that define us. These are themes that resonate with audiences of all ages, and ensure a film will have an impact that can last a lifetime. Gorgeous animation, wonderful characters, and a timeless story make The Hidden World, dare I say, one of the best films of the year so far.

And I'm just going to put it out there right now…I know we haven't seen Toy Story 4 or Frozen 2 yet, but we all know very well it's going to come down to these three at the Oscars for Best Animated Film, and I want this to win. It'd be a win for the whole How To Train Your Dragon trilogy, considering the first lost to Toy Story 3 (tough year), and the second one had its Oscar stolen, yes I said STOLEN, by Big Hero 6. Also, if Alan Silversti didn't just turn in like, his best work for Avengers: Endgame, I'd say give John Powell an Oscar too next year. Also also, I am damn not ready to talk about Endgame…

Maybe after My Top 10 Films of 2012, 2018, and a review of Shazam, but right now…damn not ready.

If you'd like to hear me speak about the production of the first film, click here to watch my presentation from the BCAT (Burlington Cable Access Television) Cinema Series.