Movie Review: Strange World

Movie Review: Strange World                                                                                                  11-23-22

Strange World tells the story of a farmer named Searcher Clade, whose dad was a famous explorer. Searcher, along with his wife Miridian and their son Ethan, grow and sell a powerful plant called Pando, which can be converted into a convenient power source. One day, they’re recruited by Callisto, who tells them that the Pando is in danger. The family goes on an adventure deep underground, inhabited by creatures that look like something from right underneath a microscope. Here, they meet Searcher’s dad Jaeger, who focuses more on exploring far-off places. When Ethan meets his grandad, Searcher’s afraid that he might want to grow up to be more like Jaeger.

Much like this year’s Lightyear, Strange World obviously doesn’t have the most engaging story, but it has amazing world building, a good score from Henry Jackman, and a surprisingly affective sidekick with Splat.

Searcher examining Splat.

There’s also a surprising about of representation that Disney decades earlier would consider taboo, such as an interracial couple, a main character who’s openly gay, a father who basically abandons his son, and a character with a missing appendage who isn’t a villain. In this case, the Clade’s family dog Legend has a missing front leg.

If I were to complain about one thing, I feel that Searcher could’ve been a bit more likable. To put it simply, he spends a good portion of the movie fighting with Jaeger, similar to how Kenai in Brother Bear doesn’t really loosen up until the film’s third act.

"You gave me a Mercedes for my birthday?"

In conclusion, it’s obviously not the best film WDAS has to offer, but if you’re looking for family fun outside your own home, Strange World will be quite a ride. It’s also much better than Disney’s last attempt at an animated sci-fi film, Chicken Little.

Rating: 3.4 stars out of 5

Movie Review: Disenchanted

Movie Review: Disenchanted                                                                              11-20-22

In the sequel to the beloved fairytale spoof Enchanted, Giselle and Robert move to Monroeville with now teenage stepdaughter Morgan and baby daughter Sofia. Feeling that Morgan isn’t happy with her new life, Giselle uses a wishing wand given from King Edward and Queen Nancy to wish for a fairytale life. However, you know the old saying: Be careful what you wish for. Now it’s up to Morgan to reverse the wish before Giselle turns into an evil stepmother.

First, I must start with this: WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH GISELLE?! Yes, in the original film, Giselle was a fish out of water who tried to find the positive side to everything, but she also learned how to adapt to the real world. Heck, she managed to defeat her bad guy! In Disenchanted, however, Giselle is changed back to a ditzy girl who does more harm than help.

Giselle about to use the magic wand.

And remember Morgan, Robert’s adorable daughter from the first film who immediately loves Giselle as if she was her own mother? Well, forget all that, as she’s now the cynical teen who wants to move back to New York. I’m aware that teenagers can be moody, but did you have to turn her into a  in the same fashion as Alex Russo from Wizards of Waverley Place? I know this may seem a bit unfair to compare the two, but look at Paddington 2! That film managed to have Judy and Jonathan aged up without having them turned into jerks.

The jokes in Disenchanted also aren’t as funny as they were in the first film. Remember how well the first Enchanted did with poking fun at fairytales while also embracing the genre? Well, that’s tossed aside for humor you’d expect from Animaniacs and Shrek.

If there is one thing I liked about Disenchanted, the costume designs are amazing, both for Monroeville and Monrolasia. Other than that, it feels like it’s trying to recapture lightning in a bottle only to get struck by it.

In conclusion, stick with the original Enchanted, as well as another Disney+ exclusive film from this year, Chip n Dale: Rescue Rangers. If you want to know what I thought of that film, I’ll review it in January.

Rating: 2.6 stars out of 5.