Movie Review: Vivo

Movie Review: Vivo                                                                                                                      9-22-21

Vivo, the first-ever musical from Sony Pictures Animation, tells the story of a kinkajou named Vivo (Lin-Manuel Miranda), who lives happily with his owner Andrés Hernández (Juan de Marcos Gonzalez) in Havana, Cuba. One day, Andres receives a letter from his childhood friend Marta Sandoval (Gloria Estefan), who now lives in Miami, Florida, and the letter confesses his love to her. The next morning, Andres dies, which makes the town very sad. There, Vivo meets Andres’s niece Rosa (Zoe Saldana) and her daughter Gabriella (Ynairly Simo), who both come from Florida. Vivo sneaks into Gabi’s luggage, ends up in Florida, befriends Gabi, and embarks on an adventure to give the letter to Marta before she performs her final show.

While it obviously doesn’t hold a candle to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse or The Mitchells vs the Machines, Vivo is still a strong entry from Sony Pictures Animation with the best songs in a non-Disney animated musical since The Prince of Egypt, beautiful animation, top-notch voice acting, and a strong message about accepting grief.

Vivo isn't the only character in the movie to have a loved one pass away too soon.

It’s also refreshing to have an animated film other than Dumbo take place in Florida. In fact, the Sand Dollars, a Girl Scout group that Gabi secretly despises, is dedicated to saving Florida’s wildlife.

Is it me, or do the Sand Dollars look like extras from The Boss Baby?

In conclusion, while Vivo may not be the best animated movie of the year, it’s definitely worth a watch for music lovers.

If you are reading this, Kristine Belson, thank you so much for saving Sony Pictures Animation. A few years ago, Sony was an animation studio that very few people really cared for. But now, with hit films like Spider-Verse, The Mitchells vs the Machines, and now Vivo, they’re a force to be reckoned with that is even making Disney and Pixar wet their pants.

Rating: 3.6 stars out of 5.

PS. I will not post any new movie reviews until November. Instead, on October 28th, in honor of both Halloween and International Animation Day, I will post my personal Top 10 Favorite Disney Villains!

Movie Review: Hook

Movie Review: Hook                                                                                                                   9-6-21

Steven Spielberg’s cult classic Hook answers the question: What would happen if Peter Pan abandoned Neverland and grew up? Well, in this film, Peter (Robin Williams) marries Wendy Darling’s daughter Moira (Caroline Goodall), and they had two children named Maggie (Amber Scott) and Jack (Charlie Korsmo). However, Peter is now focused on work rather than attending his son’s baseball game or his daughter’s play. While visiting Grandma Wendy in London, Captain Hook (Dustin Hoffman) captures Maggie and Jack! Tinkerbell (Julia Roberts) whisks Peter off to Neverland, which is now overrun with pirates, and the only way to save Maggie and Jack is to sword fight with Hook. However, Peter doesn’t remember being a kid, and it’s up to Tink and the tribe of Lost Boys train him to fly, fight, and crow within three days before Hook kills his children.

Hook is basically what 2018’s Christopher Robin should’ve been with an all-star cast, a story that stays true to its source material, gorgeous backgrounds and sets, a great score from the incomparable John Williams, and impressive pre-CG visual effects that have actually aged quite well.

Peter encountering sneezing flowers in Neverland.

What differentiates Hook from other adaptations of Peter Pan is the fact that Tinkerbell can talk. In stage adaptations of JM Barrie’s classic story, Tink is basically a ball of light who communicates through chiming. The famous pixie was reimagined as a tangible character in Walt Disney’s Peter Pan, but was also a pantomime character who could only communicate through chimes. Not to mention that the Native Americans are absent, perhaps to avoid confusion with the previous year’s Dances With Wolves.

Tink playing dead so she can get Peter to clap.

Captain Hook is also a memorable villain, reminiscent of Disney Villains overseen by Walt, Wolfgang Reitherman, and Roy Disney. At one point, Hook decides to train Jack and Maggie into hating parents so they can like him instead of Peter.

Hook getting Jack to smash clocks to let out his frustration.

In conclusion, while it does have its flaws, Hook is a jewel in Spielberg’s crown that deserves another polish.

Rating: 3.45 stars out of 5