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

Movie Review: The Indian in the Cupboard

Movie Review: The Indian in the Cupboard                                                                              7-22-21

On his 9th birthday, Omri is presented with many gifts, like a skateboard, a skeleton action figure, and a plain-old wooden cupboard. However, this is no ordinary cupboard: This cupboard can turn any plastic toy into a living creature. When Omri places a Native American figurine inside the cupboard, it becomes alive! Omri befriends the Native American, who is named Little Bear, and is convinced that Omri is a God. Omri tries his best to keep Little Bear a secret, but when his friend Patrick finds out and brings to life a cowboy named ‘Boohoo’ Boone, trouble starts to brew between Boone and Little Bear.

The Indian In The Cupboard is an overlooked film that deserves another watch with a story that stays true to its source material, visual effects that have aged surprisingly well, and engaging characters.

Another thing I appreciate about ‘Indian’ is the fact that Omri and Patrick are different skin colors, but are still good friends. This is diversity, people!

Patrick giving Omri Little Bear before he becomes animate.

It's a shame that 'Indian' flopped at the box-office, as I think director and legendary puppeteer Frank Oz did a very good job at adapting Lynne Reid Banks' classic book into a movie.

I am so sorry that this review is so short. There's honestly not that much to say about this movie. However, I promise my review of Spielberg's Hook, which will be uploaded in September, will be longer.

Rating: 3.4 stars out of 5

Movie Review: Space Jam: A New Legacy

Movie Review: Space Jam: A New Legacy                                                                                7-16-21

Lebron James is a legendary basketball player, but his son Dominic wants to design video games. One day, while visiting the Warner Bros Studio to learn about the upcoming VR website WB 3000, Lebron thinks it’s a stupid idea, which infuriates super-intelligent AI Al G Rhythm. Al transports both Dom and Lebron into the Server-Verse, which is inspired by Ready Player One, and the only way Lebron can get Dom back is to beat him at a basketball game. When Lebron gets dumped into the Looney Tunes world (which is one of the many worlds in the Server-Verse), he has no choice but to team up with Bugs Bunny and reunite the Tune Squad for the basketball event of the century.

As I am typing this, Space Jam 2: A New Legacy has a shockingly low rating of 34% on Rotten Tomatoes. However, I think it’ a great film for the summer with a solid story, excellent visual effects and animation from ILM , enough Easter Eggs to fill up three Pixar films, and a threatening villain who’s years ahead of, say, Scarlett Overkill from Minions.

Lebron encountering Al for the first time, as homage to The Wizard of Oz.

Remember how Chuck Jones and Joe Dante felt that in the original Space Jam, a lot of the old Looney Tunes characters were used poorly? Well, in this movie, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, and the rest of the gang each get their moment in the limelight. There’s even a seen where Porky engages in a rap battle with Al, and it’s actually kind of catchy!

Cartoon Network (@cartoonnetworkofficial) • Instagram photos and videos

For those still uncomfortable with the over abundance of CG films from the likes of Disney, Pixar, DreamWorks, and Sony, most of the scenes with the Looney Tunes characters are in 2D. While they don’t look as well as they did in Space Jam or Looney Tunes: Back in Action, it’s still a breath of fresh air in an ocean of CGI films.

LeBron in the cartoon world.

In conclusion, while it obviously doesn’t hold a candle to The Mitchells vs the Machines, Space Jam 2: A New Legacy is a worthy film from Warner Animation Group that is sure to get them out of a financial rut: In the past few years, films like The LEGO Movie 2 and Scoob weren’t able to recoup their budget. With Space Jam 2, however, it’s got to earn at least 300 million dollars at the box-office by the end of the summer. Besides, it's gotta be better than The Boss Baby 2: Family Business.

Rating: 3.6 stars out of 5.

Movie Review: Luca

Movie Review: Luca                                                                                                                    6-29-21

Luca is a young sea monster who lives in the ocean, but secretly wants to know what lies beyond the surface. He meets another monster named Alberto, who claims that he knows everything about the human world, and he encourages Luca to go beyond the surface. When Luca and Alberto go above the surface, they turn into humans! Now, in search of their own Vespa (a type of motorcycle), Luca and Alberto go to the seaside town of Portorosso and meet a girl named Giulia (pronounced Julia) and enter a local contest where they could win their own Vespa, while also keeping their monster identities a secret.

While Luca obviously doesn’t have the strongest story Pixar has to offer, it has beautiful animation, engaging characters, the best music in a Pixar film since Coco, and top-notch voice acting from little-known actors.

Giulia is an interesting character that easily joins the ranks of Colette Tatou, Jessie, Joy, and even Helen Parr. She has divorced parents, and is outcast for losing the contest every year. Giulia is also an outgoing and charming adventurer with a love of books and learning.

Giulia encountering Luca and Alberto for the first time.

In conclusion, Luca obviously doesn’t hold a candle to other Pixar films, but is a welcome break from hard-hitting animated films like Wolfwalkers, Soul, ‘Raya’, and ‘Mitchells’.

Rating: 3.7 stars out of 5.

Plus 4 Vespas 🛵🛵🛵🛵

Movie Review: A Goofy Movie

Movie Review: A Goofy Movie                                                                                      6-19-21

Max (Jason Marsden) is the son of the lovable clumsy canine Goofy (Bill Farmer), but all his classmates make fun of him for being related to Goofy. When the principal sends Max to detention for impersonating popular music star Powerline, he threatens Goofy to put Max in the electric chair if he doesn’t straighten Max out. With this in mind, Goofy brings Max on a cross-country road trip to Lake Destiny, Idaho, but Max wants to go to the Powerline concert in Los Angela’s, California to impress popular high school girl Roxanne (Kellie Martin).

A Goofy Movie is a forgotten gem that deserves to be part of the Disney Animated Canon with a story that fits Goofy perfectly, smooth animation, engaging characters, songs that easily surpass the weakest of Alan Menken films, and a strong message about trust and bonding that parents and children alike will understand. I can especially relate to Max sometimes, as both my parents love movies/specials that I think are either overrated or have been outclassed.

Goofy taking Max to Lester's Possum Park, which is a bit like Chuck E Cheese but with possums.

Another thing to appreciate about A Goofy Movie is the amount of care taken in not just the story, but the animation. You can tell that the filmmakers didn’t want this to be an extended episode of Goof Troop, and the fact that this movie used digital ink and paint instead of celluloid shows.

Is that the Duke of Soul from The Little Mermaid biting on Goofy's leg?

If I were to complain about one thing, I feel we didn’t get enough of PJ, Max’s best friend who’s also the son of brutish neighbor Pete, Mickey’s feline rival who dates back to the mouse’s black-and-white days. On Goof Troop, PJ was a bit like Clyde McBride from The Loud House, except with no creepy crush.

PJ, or Pete Junior, as shown on Goof Troop.

In conclusion, A Goofy Movie is a perfect film to share with the whole family, especially on Father’s Day. I also personally prefer this film to WDAS’s actual film that year, Pocahontas.

Rating: 3.8 stars out of 5.

PS. As promised, I will say which film was better: Raya and the Last Dragon or The Mitchells vs the Machines. I picked ‘Mitchells’ because, while ‘Raya’ has amazing world building and animation, it suffers from underdeveloped characters, dragon designs that could’ve looked less fluffy and cuddly, and a rushed ending. While ‘Mitchells’ may not look as beautiful as Kumandra, the film has more likable and relatable characters, a better story, and funnier jokes you’d expect from DreamWorks.

Looney Tunes Double Feature review

Looney Tunes Double Feature Review                                                                                        5-14-21

To prepare myself for Space Jam 2: A New Legacy later this summer, I decided to review the two previous Looney Tunes movies: Space Jam and Looney Tunes: Back in Action.

Alien theme park Moron Mountain is going through rough times, and the boss Swackhammer (Danny DeVito) demands new attractions. Swackhammer’s flunkies are sent to Earth to kidnap the Looney Tunes gang so they will perform for the park against their will. Bugs Bunny (Billy West) tells the aliens that if they win a basketball game against the toons, they will be their slaves, so the flunkies harness the power of NBA superstars and turn into hulking Mon-Stars! Now, to win back their rights, the Looney Tunes gang have to contact Michael Jordan, along with female basketball player Lola Bunny (Kath Soucie, no relation to Bugs) if they want to win this game.

I know some people complained about this movie for having a ridiculous story, some dated CG effects, and some small plot holes, but please keep in mind that the original Looney Tunes cartoons were downright daffy, silly, and off-the-rails bonkers. Yes, I agree that the plot can be nonsensical a lot of the time, but there’s also top-notch voice acting, impressive character animation that almost rivals Disney, some good cinematography, and some memorable funny jokes. My favorite line in the movie is when Bugs and Daffy were retrieving Jordan’s lucky shoes, and they were discussing what to name their basketball team. Daffy suggests they call their team ‘the Ducks’, but Bugs disagrees and replies “What kind of Mickey Mouse organization would name their team ‘The Ducks’?”

My one major gripe with Space Jam is that Marvin the Martian, an alien who would serve as a foil for Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, is used rather poorly, even though he could’ve easily defeated the Nerdlucks (Swackahmmer’s flunkies). Remember how he basically evaporated Daffy in the original Duck Dodgers?

I’m sorry to say this, Marvin fans, but in Space Jam, he’s reduced to a referee.

In conclusion, while not as bad as other people say it is, Space Jam could’ve been better, but you have to agree on one thing: It’s better than last year’s Scoob.

In another world where humans and toons (aka cartoon characters) live side by side, Daffy Duck (Joe Alasky) has been fired in favor of the more popular Bugs Bunny (also Joe Alasky). After getting Warner Bros security guard Damian Drake Jr. (Brendan Fraser) fired because of Daffy’s antics, he gets a message from his father, who’s also a secret spy, that he’s been kidnapped by the ACME corporation! Now Damian, Bugs, Daffy, and WB Vice President Kate Houghton (Jenna Elfman) have to go on a trip around the world to find the fabled ‘Blue Monkey’ Diamond before ACME does for their own diabolical schemes!

Many people, myself included, view Looney Tunes: Back in Action as an improvement over Space Jam with a witty script and animation/live-action interactions that are almost on par with Roger Rabbit.

While most of the toons that appeared in Space Jam were basically eye candy, many of the toons that appear in Back in Action actually push the plot forward, including Elmer Fudd, Yosemite Sam, Wile E Coyote, Marvin the Martian, and even the Tasmanian Devil!

Damian gambling with Yosemite with Foghorn Leghorn as the host.

Unfortunately, due to licensing issues, no non-Warner toons appear in Looney Tunes: Back in Action, so nobody from Disney, Don Bluth, Nickelodeon, DreamWorks (who had six animated movies by this point), or even Cartoon Network appears in the movie. The only non-Warner toons that do appear in the movie are Scooby-Doo and Shaggy Rogers.

If I were to complain about one thing, I'd say that both Damian and Kate are painfully bland one-dimensional characters. Not to mention that Joan Cussack is a little young to play Damian's mother.

In conclusion, while it has its issues, Looney Tunes: Back in Action is a movie that would make Looney Tunes legends Tex Avery, Bob Clampett, Friz Freleng, and maybe even Chuck Jones smile. I just hope Space Jam 2 lives up to its hype. It’s also important to note that this movie was the last time hand-drawn animation would be mixed with live-action until 2018 with Mary Poppins Returns.

Space Jam rating: 3.25 stars out of 5.

Back in Action rating: 3.40 stars out of 5.