Movie Review: IF

 Movie Review: IF                                                                                                                        1-13-25

With her dad in the hospital, Bea finds herself staying at her grandmother's apartment the same way she did the summer before her mother died. As she avoids her fears about the situation, she discovers she can see IFs (imaginary friends), and they enlist her to help them get reassigned to new children after their people have grown up and moved on, thinking they no longer need their old emotional supports. The more she tries, the more she realizes that the real solution to all their problems may need her to face down her biggest emotions.

Even though the story is essentially a movie adaptation of Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends with a touch of Spielberg’s Hook, IF excels with a heartfelt timeless tone, outstanding creature designs that actually look like they were created by kids, a good score from Michael Giacinno, and a surprisingly complex protagonist: Bea starts out as your typical cynical girl not too similar to Chihiro from Spirited Away, but after meeting Calvin (Ryan Reynolds’ character in the film) and the main two IFs, Blue and Blossom, she starts to develop a sense of maturity and confidence after dealing with the loss of her mother.

I also love the interaction of the live-action and animated characters. It seems like that Bea and Calvin are actually interacting with the IFs!

In conclusion, despite having a low critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes (Seriously, you need to soften up!), while obviously not on the same caliber as Inside Out 2 and The Wild Robot, IF is an enjoyable film with no cynical bone in its body that the whole family can watch together.

Rating: 3.6 stars out of 5

Animated Movies For 2025

Boy, 2024 was quite a year for animated movies. After five years, Disney finally had a successful movie with Moana 2, which had the biggest box-office opening for a Thanksgiving film. Pixar was able to break The Lion King 2019’s record for being the highest-grossing animated movie of all time with Inside Out 2, which earned a whopping 1.68 billion dollars! DreamWorks was able to wow the crowd with Orion and the Dark and The Wild Robot. Unfortunately for this year, there will be fewer animated movies than usual thanks to the strikes. Regardless, let's see what 2025 has for animated movies!

In January, DreamWorks will release a Captain Underpants spinoff with Dog Man. When a police officer and his dog are caught in an explosion, the nurse Genie S Lady decides to sew the dog’s head onto the man’s body, thus creating Dog Man, licking up crime! The movie will be CG, but will emulate stop-motion in the same fashion as Flushed Away, The LEGO Movie, and The Peanuts Movie. I’m actually a tad concerned about this film, as last time DreamWorks made a spinoff movie to one of their films with Penguins of Madagascar, it had a write-down of 57 million dollars.

In February, Daffy Duck and Porky Pig will star in their very first animated movie with The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie. Due to a series of antics at the bubblegum factory, Daffy and Porky discover a secret alien plot to conquer Earth through mind control. The duo must work together to stop the aliens, while also trying to avoid driving each other insane. Uncle Grandpa creator Peter Browngardt will direct this hand-drawn animated film. And if you're wondering, no. Planet Earth will not be blown up in The Day the Earth Blew Up.

In June, Pixar will release their next movie, Elio. This movie will be about a human boy named Elio as he gets kidnapped by aliens and is mistaken for the ambassador of Planet Earth. This movie was going to be released in March 2024, but was delayed because of the actor’s strike. Let’s hope this movie ends up being a success like Elemental and Inside Out 2.

In July, the famous Belgian blue creatures will appear in their first animated movie in eight years with The Smurfs Movie. Instead of Sony Pictures Animation producing the film, this movie will be done by Nickelodeon, Marcy Media Films, and The Peyo Company, with DreamWorks veteran Chris Miller directing the project.

In August, the famous animal thieves will return in The Bad Guys 2. In this movie, the Bad Guys are struggling to find trust and acceptance in their newly minted lives as Good Guys, when they are pulled out of retirement and forced to do 'one last job' by an all-female squad of criminals. I just hope that this movie lives up to the first one.

There will be two animated movies in November. First, on November 21st, is David, an independent CGI musical that will retell the biblical story of David. The movie has been described as a cross between The Prince of Egypt and Tangled: It will have the beauty and authenticity of The Prince of Egypt and the energy, passion, fun, and humor of Tangled. To learn more about David, click on the link below.

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On November 26th, Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps are back with Zootopia 2. This movie will feature animals that weren’t in Zootopia 1, such as a snake named Gary. I just hope this movie doesn’t end up stinking like a skunk-butt rug.

And finally, in December, the world-famous yellow invertebrate will return for his next animated movie with The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants. This movie will be about SpongeBob journeying to the depths of the ocean to face off against the ghost of the Flying Dutchman. Rather than Bryan Doyle-Murray voicing the famous ghost like on the show, Mark Hamill will voice him instead. With both Sponge on the Run and Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie being SpongeBob’s worst movies to date, I have no desire to see Search For SquarePants.

Of all these films, I'm most excited for The Bad Guys 2, The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie, and David.

Once again, there will be more animated movies than the ones listed here. These were the ones I wanted to talk about.

I'm sorry that I didn't include a proper picture for The Smurfs Movie. As I'm typing, there are no posters for that film yet.

Movie Review: Spellbound

Movie Review: Spellbound                                                                                                              12-8-24

This movie is about an Elfin princess named Ellian, whose parents the King and Queen were turned into monsters after entering the Dark Forest of Eternal Darkness. Because of this, they have to keep it a secret from the rest of the kingdom of Lumbria. On her 15th birthday, Elian learns that the only way to break the spell is for the Ellian and her parents to embark on a journey through the Dark Forest of Eternal Darkness to find the legendary Lake of Light to turn the King and Queen back to normal.

Spellbound is unfortunately on the weaker side of animated movies this year with a story that is more filler that feature, a message that says that it’s a bad thing to have negative emotions, and characters that feel like they came out of a Disney movie.

Another thing to point out about Spellbound is that it’s a full-fledged musical with songs from the legendary Alan Menken. Some songs, like ‘Step by Step’, ‘The Way It Was Before’, and ‘How To Break the Spell’ are actually worthy of adding to your iPhone. One song, however (I Could Get Used To This), can be deemed as the worst Alan a Menken song since ‘Yodel-Adle-Edle-Idle-Ooo’ from Home on the Range.

Even though the creature designs are really good, it seems strange that they can talk. As Ellian’s parents Ellsmore and Solon start rebounding with their daughter, they regain the ability to talk. This is strange because their designs don’t look like they can emit speech. I personally would’ve gone with the Brave route and keep Ellsmore and Solon mute until they retain their human forms. Elinor in Brave was able to understand English despite being a bear.

If that wasn’t bad enough, Flink, Ellian’s pet hamster, swaps brains with Minister Bolinar. For most of the movie, Bolinar complains about being in a different body and even wishes he was dead at one point. This just reminds me way too much of Valentino in Wish, another animal character who would’ve been better off mute.

Bolinar getting carried by a hoard of 'Flinks'.

In conclusion, just ignore Spellbound and rewatch a better Netflix animated movie instead, such as Vivo, Del Torro’s Pinocchio, and Leo. If you want to hear my thoughts on Adam Sandler’s Leo, you’ll have to wait until February for me to review that film.

Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5.

About 10-20 years ago, John Lasseter (the head of Skydance Animation after he was ousted from Pixar) was deemed as a latter-day Walt Disney: Both were people who started animation studios that made an enormous impact with innovate animation, engaging characters, and powerful storytelling. Nowadays, John is closer to 90s Don Bluth, as both men are trying to copy Disney, but what they ended up producing are worse than what the Mouse House is putting out.

Movie Review: Moana 2

Movie Review: Moana 2                                                                                                                11-27-24

In this movie, Moana is now 19 with a little sister named Simea. While exploring another island, she discovers that before Maui stole the heart of Te Fiti, the people of the ocean were once united, only to be cursed by the thunder god Nalo. Now, with her animal companions Pua and Hei-Hei, along with the grouchy farmer Kele, the brainy but quirky Loto, and Maui super fan Moni, to journey across the ocean to find the island of Motufeti and break the curse.

Moana 2 is a silver lining in Disney’s Post-Revival Era* with outstanding animation, a story that is basically an improved take on Trolls: World Tour, engaging albeit familiar songs, and some funny anachronistic jokes.

'Moanabes' with their own Pua.

Remember the Kakamora, the cocoanut pirates in the first film? Well, in this movie, it’s revealed that they were split from their loved ones, too, and they’ve been searching for Motufeti too. This makes their scene in Moana 1 a lot more interesting, since that means that they were trying to use Te Fiti’s heart to save their kind.

If I were to nitpick about one thing, the villains of the movie Nalo and Matangi feel underutilized. Matangi, in particular, appears in lots of promotional material and even has her own song, but doesn’t seem to have a strong presence on screen. Maybe it’s just me since I didn’t take much notes during the movie. Not to mention that Maui actually doesn't reunite with Moana until at least halfway through the movie.

In conclusion, while it obviously doesn’t hold a torch to the first movie, Moana 2 is still a sea-worthy sequel that the whole family can enjoy. It’s already five times better than another animated sequel this year, the rather disappointing Kung Fu Panda 4. Just be warned that Moana 2 has a shocking climax.

Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5.

Plus four coconuts 

*Walt Disney Animation Studios' history is split into eight sections: Golden Age (1937), Wartime Era (1943-1949), Silver Era (1950-1967), Bronze Era (1970-1988), Renaissance (1989-1999), Post-Renaissance (1999-2008), Revival Era (2009-2016), and Post-Revival Era (2018-present). Right now, we are in the Post-Revival Era. Here's a helpful link below, though it's a bit dated.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqKfu_-WZ58

Movie Review: The Wild Robot

Movie Review: The Wild Robot                                                                                                     10-30-24

Based on the book by Peter Brown, this movie is about a helper bot named Roz, who crashes into the woods. When all the animals neglect her, Roz decides to raise an orphaned gosling that she names Brightbill so she can teach him how to eat, swim, and fly just in time for Winter.

The Wild Robot is another jewel to put on DreamWorks’ crown with a heartfelt albeit slightly familiar, outstanding animation, engaging characters, and a great score from Kris Bowers.

Another thing that makes The Wild Robot stand out is that it’s one of DreamWorks’s last movies to be animated in-house. This is because they’re outsourcing future works to Sony Pictures Imageworks to reduce costs even further. This is a shame since the animation in The Wild Robot is amazing- Just like Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, this movie uses a painterly art style while showcasing semi-realism that computer animation is famous for.

Fink the fox teaching Roz how to tell a story.

If there’s one thing I have to nitpick about The Wild Robot, it would be pinpointing where in time the movie takes place: The movies seems to take place in modern times, but the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco is seen underwater? Is this the distant future in which climate change flooded the city?

In conclusion, even though it’s probably no longer around in theaters where you live by the time I’m writing this, The Wild Robot is, alongside Inside Out 2, the best animated movies for 2024. If you’re reading this, Chris Sanders, you need to become the chief creative officer of DreamWorks Animation! Disney has Jennifer Lee, Pixar has Pete a Docter, and Sony has Kristine Belson, so why not have you run DreamWorks?

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Plus 4 eggs

Shrek: Totally Tangled Tales video game review

Since I won't have a new movie review until November, I decided to review another video game based on a DreamWorks film: Shrek's Totally Tangled Tales!

In this game, Shrek and his friends need your help: The Fairy Godmother has cast a nasty spell on Fiona’s dad

King Harold, and now, he keeps turning into all sorts of crazy storybook characters! But all he really wants to be

is his froggy self.

Harold after turning into the Genie from Aladdin.

Now, it’s up to you to get to the castle and retrieve the magic wand to reverse the spell. Along the way, you’ll have

to answer questions about your favorite stories and solve some funky puzzles. Are you up to the challenge?

This game is very similar to the Madagascar Trivia Game I reviewed earlier this year. Instead of answering

questions about animals, however, you have to answer questions about fairy tales, nursery rhymes, Greek myths,

and public domain chapter books. While ‘Madagascar’ had clips of real animals to accommodate the questions,

‘Shrek’ has new fairy tale animation inspired by the storybook illustrations from the Shrek films. There are also

new live-action clips with John Cleese reprising his role as King Harold.

Players can pick between four characters from the Shrek films: Gingy (aka The Gingerbread Man), the Three

Blind Mice, the Big Bad Wolf, and the Three Little Pigs.

In this game, there are ten different challenges you’ll encounter.

Shout Your Answer, hosted by Donkey, in which you have to shout the answer out loud. After shouting your

answer, press ‘Reveal Answer’ to see if you were right.

Tongue Twisters, also hosted by Donkey, in which you have to say the showcased tongue twister out loud

five times before time runs out.

Pinocchio Knows, in which you have to answer the question before Pinocchio’s nose reaches the end of the screen.

Who Am I? Hosted by Puss in Boots, you have to guess the character based on the following three clues.

If you guess correctly after only one clue, move ahead two spaces!

Twisted Tale or Real Tale, in which Puss briefly summarizes a famous story. Then, it’s up to you to

decide whether he’s messing up the details of the plot or giving you the straight scoop.

For Picture Scramble, you’ll see a picture that’s more scrambled than Humpty Dumpty after his fall.

It’s up to you to solve the question regarding the picture before time runs out.

Triple Tales, hosted by Shrek, which is basically the same as Madagascar’s Triple Trails. Here, you have

to answer three questions in a row. If you answer all three of them correctly, you get to move ahead two

spaces! If you answered two of the questions correctly, move ahead one. If you answered only one question

correctly, stay where you are. If you answer none of the questions correctly, you have to move back one space.

Spot the Difference, hosted by Shrek, in which you have to spot the difference between two screenshots

from Shrek 2. Just be careful: Some of the changes are just very subtle.

Multiple Choice, hosted by Fiona, in which you have to answer a multiple-choice question regarding

either the showcased fairy tale or Shrek 2 (but no Shrek 1, unfortunately).

And finally, Anagrams, in which Fiona hosts word puzzles that slowly reveal themselves as time goes by.

If you answer correctly within the yellow range of the stopwatch, you’ll move ahead two spaces!

Think that’s all too much brain power? Well, every now and then, your noodle takes a break with Twisted

Twirls. Here, you’ll witness the effects of the Fairy Godmother’s spell first-hand and see King Harold turn into the

likes of King Arthur, Peter Pan, Goldilocks, Robin Hood, and even Davy Crockett! Press the button on the

wheel below, and the corresponding clip will either force you to move up one, move down one, move up

two, or stay where you are.

Along with all that, there’s also the optional Tangled Tales option, hosted by Fiona. After answering a

question correctly, you have to choose from a group of words onscreen to write down on your Tangled

Tales card, slowly making your very own fairy tale Mad Libs style! If you win the game, you get to read

your Tangled Tale out loud.

And that’s how you play Shrek: Totally Tangled Tales! First one to get past the ninth stage wins!

While not as engaging as Madagascar Animal Trivia, Shrek: Totally Tangled Tales is still a really good

alternative to the next two Shrek movies that most fans would rather ignore. It’ll also make you want to

read classic chapter books, such as Little Women, Black Beauty, Pollyanna, and The Three Musketeers.

What holds the game back is that, when you have lots of players, you’ll get lots of Twisted Twirls, and it

becomes more annoying than fun. Not to mention that some of the questions are rather difficult if you

haven’t caught up on your reading.

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5