The Good Dinosaur
Director: Peter Sohn
Stars: Jeffrey Wright, Frances McDormand, Maleah Nipay-Padilla
Duration: 93 mins
Class: U
KRS Releasing Ltd
The Pixar brand has become a mark of excellence, the animation studio consistently aiming for and for the most part reaching extremely high standards of quality.
Since its first major feature 20 years ago, the sublime Toy Story, the studio has told some amazing stories, introduced us to some indelible characters, made us laugh out very loud, and tugged mercilessly at our heartstrings, all set against a palette of visually stunning animation.
Even its duds (I’m looking at you, Cars and Cars 2) had their moments, as does The Good Dinosaur, which does not quite reach the lofty heights of, say, Up or, this year’s Inside Out. Yet, it remains a solidly told and beautifully rendered animated tale that will undoubtedly prove a popular choice for families over the forthcoming festive season.
The Good Dinosaur envisages a world where the infamous asteroid did not in fact wipe out dinosaurs, and we are introduced to Momma and Poppa dinosaurs who live out by the mountains and tend to their farm while they await there little ones to hatch. Buck and Libby soon check out of their eggshells, cute and cuddly, if a little rambunctious. Little Arlo follows suit, clearly the runt of the litter.
Coaxed gently out of the comforting environment of his egg, Arlo starts off in life afraid of his own shadow as his patient and loving parents try and teach him the ways of the world to no avail. When tragedy strikes and Arlo inadvertently ventures far away from home he befriends a wild human little boy, who helps him find his way back to his family.
The story, by Peter Sohn (who also directs), Erik Benson, Meg LeFauve, Kelsey Mann and Bob Peterson has clearly taken its inspiration from the likes of Disney’s (Pixar’s parent studio) classic The Lion King and Pixar’s own Finding Nemo. Yet, it boasts none of the depth or gravitas of the former, or the humour and heart of the latter.
Will undoubtedly prove a popular choice for families
In fact, unlike most of the studio’s previous output, it opts for a straightforward narrative that seems squarely aimed at the much younger elements of the audience, with a basic message that it’s only by confronting your fears will you truly discover who you are.
Not that that’s in any way a bad message, it’s just that the film offers a rather simplistic way of saying it, eschewing the studio’s trademark complexities within its stories.
That said, in Arlo (voiced by Raymond Ochoa) and Spot (Jack Bright) we have two likeable characters. Arlo is large, green and for the most part rather skittish. Spot is hyperactive, giggly and impossibly cute. The two share some rather exciting – and, in some cases very perilous – moments in their adventures.
Their unlikely friendship provides most of the emotion of the story and, while it all wraps up rather predictably, Pixar’s penchant for depicting genuine emotions is present and correct – one particular defining moment in their relationship is utterly heartrending.
What it may lack in narrative and character, The Good Dinosaur certainly makes up for in its animation, and it is certainly spectacular to look at. Inspired by the American Northwest, the animation has conjured up awe-inspiring mountain vistas; lush and verdant forestry; and deep, swirling rivers that come to impressive life when storms hit the land, evoking Mother Nature’s fury in some truly astounding scenes.
• KRS Releasing has also released the Malta-produced animated short film Qrempuċu which will be screened with The Good Dinosaur. Qrempuċu is a Fat Lady Production, the work of brothers Nicholas and Mark Caruana (see interview on page 11), based on the main character in Trevor Zahra’s book Qrempuċu f’Belt il-Ġobon.
The short film is an excellent piece of work, its seven or so minutes running time concisely telling its story and establishing the character of Qrempuċu, who one night, when trying to fall asleep, is jolted out of his bed by a knock at the door. There is no-one there… yet he sets off on an unexpected adventure where he discovers, among other things, that the moon is indeed made of cheese.
The animation is first class, from the detail that went into the creation of the inquisitive furry protagonist, to the overall visuals, the filmmakers creating some beautiful dreamlike night-time imagery as the backdrop to the story.
It is a great calling card, and bodes well for the full-length feature based on the book, which the Caruanas are currently working on.