The Good Dinosaur
Don't Go! Beautiful but Pedestrian.
Lost Dino walks home.
It has already been a good year for dinosaurs and Pixar. In 2015, Jurassic World became the third highest grossing film in history, taking in a Argentinosaurus-sized $1.6 billion dollars, while Pixar's, elaborate brain tale Inside Out also entered the top-fifty biggest money-makers of all time, making $850 million so far. With Pixar's second release this year (the first time Pixar has released two films in one calendar) the bean counters over in Hollywood must have been hoping to celebrate with an extra biscuit at Christmas time; delighted to hear that The Good Dinosaur isn't just a CGI animation, but also happens to be about a dinosaur. And a good one at that.
The Good Dinosaur focuses on a green, herbivorous family of five Apatosaurus farmers (yes, the dinosaurs have developed agrarian skills) made up of Mother, Ida (Frances McDormand, Moonrise Kingdom), father, Henry (Jeffrey Wright, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2) and their three kids: Libby, Buck and runt of the litter, Arlo (Raymond Ochoa, Lovesick). Working the land, little Arlo struggles to conquer his fears while his siblings go from strength to strength. Things get worse when series of traumatic events lead Arlo to be separated from his family and he finds himself far away from home. He develops a friendship with a savage, but also estranged, little Neanderthal child who he names Spot. Together, they not only find the bravery and persistence needed to face the carnivorous and meteorological obstacles that interrupt Arlo's route home; but also do a great job in enraging Creationist Christians.
Theological incitement aside, the most immediately noticeable element of the film is the incredible animation. Pixar's rendering of terrain is astonishingly realistic, but with an added sparkle that makes it dream-like. Mountain ranges, forests and rivers all look spectacular. The dinosaurs and little human are kept soft, cartoony and perhaps a little uninspired, but retain plenty of expression, texture and emotional range. It is an impressive leap in quality since Toy Story in 1993 (a movie which seemed miraculous at the time), and with their interpretation of water becoming particularly accurate, we can expect Finding Nemo sequel, Finding Dory (released June 2016), to be a visual masterpiece.
Theological incitement aside, the most immediately noticeable element of the film is the incredible animation. Pixar's rendering of terrain is astonishingly realistic, but with an added sparkle that makes it dream-like. Mountain ranges, forests and rivers all look spectacular. The dinosaurs and little human are kept soft, cartoony and perhaps a little uninspired, but retain plenty of expression, texture and emotional range. It is an impressive leap in quality since Toy Story in 1993 (a movie which seemed miraculous at the time), and with their interpretation of water becoming particularly accurate, we can expect Finding Nemo sequel, Finding Dory (released June 2016), to be a visual masterpiece.
While Pixar may have made technical progress, their storytelling in this instance has unfortunately regressed. We are used to the fresh, layered and profound stories that made the likes of The Incredibles, Up, Wall-E andToy Story 3, so moving for adults and children alike. The Good Dinosaur instead dines at the storyline buffets ofThe Lion King and Finding Nemo to arrive at a derivative and pedestrian story that ambles along as slowly and predictably as an injured Diplodocus. Because of how shallow it is, when the typical Pixar pulling of the heartstrings arrives, the lack of guile in getting there makes it a bemusing yank, rather than the subtle tug that usually jerks tears. Throw in a tiresome, multi-horned, (possibly inebriated) tree dinosaur, generic supporting characters and a weird and "out there" moment when Spot and Arlo get totally high from some hallucinogenic berries and you would think that Pixar had lost more than just the plot.
This makes some sense, since there have been industry rumblings about trouble with production for years, including a complete change in cast, a change in director and a struggle to complete the story. Being cynical, it still cost $175 million to produce so there was never going to be any question of a release. So it will be slipped a little under the radar (having had minimal marketing) and will be written off against the success of Inside Out. This will keep the boardroom suits at studio owner, Disney, happy but the bean counters may need to put those biscuits back in the cupboard.
This makes some sense, since there have been industry rumblings about trouble with production for years, including a complete change in cast, a change in director and a struggle to complete the story. Being cynical, it still cost $175 million to produce so there was never going to be any question of a release. So it will be slipped a little under the radar (having had minimal marketing) and will be written off against the success of Inside Out. This will keep the boardroom suits at studio owner, Disney, happy but the bean counters may need to put those biscuits back in the cupboard.
Nevertheless, despite its shortcomings, it still plays like a big, colourful picture book and the overall themes of the film - overcoming fear, fulfilling potential, and growing up - are pleasant and accessible. They may be too undisguised for adults, but they will still speak to younger viewers (age 4 - 7 perhaps), especially when combined with the luminosity and charisma of the animation.
As for the traditional little short film before The Good Dinosaur - Sanjay's Super Team - it also falls, well, a little short. It is a cute piece about an Indian boy who drifts off during prayer time with his dad to imagine Hindu deities as superheroes. It is rather more bland than some of Disney/Pixar's previous offerings (such as the excellent Paperman and the cheesy but sweet, Lava). What is delightful, however, is to finally see that Pixar have managed to source the colour "brown" in their computer palates and, for the first time, have created a main character who is not white (albeit for 5 minutes).
So don't go, but keep it in mind as a DVD purchase for those very little ones next Christmas.
As for the traditional little short film before The Good Dinosaur - Sanjay's Super Team - it also falls, well, a little short. It is a cute piece about an Indian boy who drifts off during prayer time with his dad to imagine Hindu deities as superheroes. It is rather more bland than some of Disney/Pixar's previous offerings (such as the excellent Paperman and the cheesy but sweet, Lava). What is delightful, however, is to finally see that Pixar have managed to source the colour "brown" in their computer palates and, for the first time, have created a main character who is not white (albeit for 5 minutes).
So don't go, but keep it in mind as a DVD purchase for those very little ones next Christmas.