Since certain events have forced us to stay at home, some of us may be spending more and more time with our parents. The global health crisis has, in some way, pushed some families closer together. With very little to do outside the home and some of us out of a job, we have more time to spend with the ones we love. Netflix’s newest animated film tackles the idea of this as one family confronts what that word truly means.
The film focuses on the Willoughby family. The bloodline is famous for being adventurous, exploring the greatest reaches of the world. That is, until the latest generation; who are so selfish and greedy that they keep to themselves in their fancy house while the world grows around them. They’re so in love with each other that they aren’t willing to give any love to their children, Tim (Will Forte), Jane (Alessia Cara) and the Barnaby twins (Seán Cullen). After dealing with an orphaned baby they name Ruth, Jane believes that their lives would be much better if they, themselves, were orphans. Together, the siblings craft a deadly vacation that their parents can’t resist going on, especially with the promise of “no children allowed.” The result of this plan will send the children on an adventure that will teach them the true meaning of family, with the help of an under qualified yet kind-hearted nanny (Maya Rudolph). This latest Netflix animated film is one brightly colored adventure. The Willoughbys is entertaining thanks to its absolutely stunning animation and winning voice cast. However, the movie itself leaves something to be desired. Under all that color is the potential to be a great and thought-provoking film. But in the end, it feels more like a passable diversion rather than something worth chewing on after the credits roll. The animation is really one of the high points of the film. Every frame of this movie oozes color and style. The type of CG-animation used makes it look like whimsical stop-motion, very similar to the visual style of Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. Certain shots definitely invoke the same look and feel of their first film, the 2008 film Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. This is also where some of the best visual gags come in. Everything in the world, from the people to the cars, look like they’re made of paper. The movie doesn’t waist a second in taking full advantage of this, as both of those are flung about like they are made of air. Some scenes depict a car flying through the air from a simple tap, or tons of them piling up like they weigh absolutely nothing. This garners some major laughs because of how absurd it looks. The voice cast is also a high point. Will Forte and Maya Rudolph are among the best, with their particular talents really giving personality to their respective characters. Alessia Cara is also worth mentioning, as this is her first starring role in a movie, and she does relatively well. She gives the character of Jane Willoughby with the adventurous personality she was given by the writers. Unfortunately, the film’s story is one of its biggest letdowns. The structure of the film is very odd. For example, what should have been the story’s act 2 climax happens very soon after the half-way point. The way the movie attempts to follow basic screenplay format makes certain aspects of the film feel simultaneously overstuffed and underdeveloped. Sadly, the film seems more interested in reveling in its own absurdity rather than explore its complex themes. It attempts to tackle subjects like the effects of child neglect and what it means to be apart of a family. But most of the time, these aspects feel like mere jumping off points. This results in certain serious parts being treated more comedically, and comedic aspects are treated more seriously. This means the movie suffers from a major tonal imbalance. Its embrace of absurd and macabre jokes from children’s stories of old is refreshing, but many of the visual gags that reference gruesome deaths come out of nowhere, and as a result are more off-putting than hilarious. By the end, you’re not really sure whether these points were meant to be thought-provoking, or just an excuse to laugh at the characters’ misfortunes. The Willoughbys has some clever gags and is a visual wonder, boasting a brightly colored style that gives the film a very unique personality. It also features a wonderful voice cast that is more than up to the task of bringing this story to life. It’s just sad that the movie’s strange structure and inability to properly balance the comedic from the serious end up hampering the final product. It’s not really a bad film, but given the potential it had to be something truly profound, it’s certainly a disappointment.
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Though movie theaters have been forced to close, causing several hyped films to get delayed, Universal is making the most of a bad situation by release their latest films online for rental. This now includes Dreamworks Animation’s newest film, Trolls World Tour. A sequel to their 2016 film Trolls, which are based on the classic Troll dolls, this film is a brightly colored, pop-fueled treat for the eyes, and may be the perfect cure for our current climate.
After saving her people from the Bergens, Poppy (Anna Kendrick) does everything she can to be the best queen possible to her tribe of trolls. With the help of her best friend Branch (Justin Timberlake), she leads her people into endless dance parties day after day. But not all is well in their world, as they are about to discover that they are not the only tribe of trolls that exist in their land. In fact, they are one of six main tribes, each dedicated to a different type of music (pop, funk, classical, techno, country, and hard rock). The leaders of each tribe created six musical strings, able to play the six kinds along with all other existing types of music. But eventually, each tribe became disinterested in each other’s music, and decided that they’re better kept apart. At least, until now. Queen Barb (Rachel Bloom), leader of the hard rock trolls, is on a global mission to obtain the six strings from each troll kingdom. Using a guitar of her own design, she plots to use the strings to unite the lands under the total control of hard rock. Of course, with her boisterous attitude, Poppy believes she can use the power of hugs to reason with her. So, she and Branch set off on a journey to unite the various tribes in a (friendly) fight against Barb’s conquest. Trolls World Tour takes its world and characters in a very different direction than the first movie. In fact, it has almost no connection to the events of the first one aside from a brief visual reference. You can watch this movie without seeing the previous film and you won’t be confused. And that’s what makes a great sequel; a film that’s willing to let newcomers in while giving fans of the original more of what they love. And in a time when things are very miserable and uncertain, this movie is something that is guaranteed to lift your spirits. Along with its absolutely stunning and colorful animation, the film has a very ambitious narrative that greatly expands the world of the trolls, while also making some very obvious parallels to the current state of our world (and some unintentional parallels to the pandemic). But what sets this film apart from the hundreds of other movies that try to make the same messages is that this one does it very well. Its story of uniting the various troll tribes is a definite parallel to the concept of bringing all the world’s races and cultures together in harmony. A lot of movies are very quick to point the finger and label a bad guy, as well as make it clear that if you (the viewer) don’t believe in their views, you are a bad person. This movie makes it clear that everyone has their own views, but the way to peace isn’t to make one side look bad. The way to unite everyone is to calmly understand everyones’ sides and figure out how to come together as one. At a time when everyone is yelling at each other and no one seems to be able to compromise on their views, it’s nice to have a movie that supports a very adult opinion when it comes to settling differences. But aside from the message, the film is well made in several other departments. The animation is very vibrant and creative. The way they build the world out of basic arts and crafts supplies gives it loads of character. It feels like The Lego Movie, where everything from water to smoke are made of lego pieces. The use of felt, tinsel, and even bubble soap in this movie makes the world feel playful and inviting; letting you know that this will be a smooth ride. The voice cast is also very good here. Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake once again have great chemistry among each other. But more impressive is the line-up of music stars sprinkled throughout the film. It’s hard to tell which music stars actually have the talent to go into acting, especially voice acting. But all the various artists do pretty good jobs in their respective roles. Trolls World Tour improves upon its predecessor with stunning animation, a stellar voice cast, and an ambitious story that offers a well-rounded message about the world coming together. It isn’t the best that Dreamworks has produced, but it’s far from the worst. If you’re looking for something to lift your spirits during this very troubling time, then this is worth a rent for the whole family to watch. |