Directed By: Brad Bird
Written By: Brad Bird And Damon Lindelof
Story By: Brad Bird, Jeff Jensen and Damon Lindelof
Cinematography: Claudio Miranda
Editor: Walter Murch and Craig Wood
Cast: Britt Robertson, George Clooney, Hugh Laurie, Raffey Cassidy, Kathryn Hahn, Keegan Michael Key, Chris Bauer, Judy Greer, Thomas Robinson
Bound by a shared destiny, a teen bursting with scientific curiosity and a former boy-genius inventor embark on a mission to unearth the secrets of a place somewhere in time and space that exists in their collective memory.
This is a film sure to make the audience nostalgic At least it did for me. As to family films, but also even just Disney films that had a lot of action and were usually sci-fi, but also had an innocence to them.
It’s ambitious in a rare way that is more earnest and adventure filled. Again an AMBLIN type movie only here we deal with adults a bit more, it still involves children at heart.
Yes, it’s obviously following in the trend of movies based on rides or Disney attractions, hoping for the same success as PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN. Though this one seems a little more thawed out maybe it’s because it’s based on an attraction at the more educational Epcot Center. This film takes place in a kind of land that they were hoping the attraction would be in first place showing cutting edge, scientific inventions and hoping to inspire young minds. Not to mention more family oriented.
The film feels like a live action cartoon in scope. Not as in looking like animation filled with bad and unrealistic cgi. More just the energy and size of the production. The energy is fun and infectious for the audience at first. As the film obviously promotes imagination and science. As well as big ideas and being creative.
It even has legendary editor Walter Murch doing part of the editing. Truly making it kind of old school.
Wouldn’t expect anything less from Director Brad Bird. Who seems to specialize in these types of science during and action films. From the days when he was making animated films and shorts. Though it has a bit of an JJ Abrams flavor. As it has that mystery box, Mcguffin that opens you up to the rest of the film and its themes. Maybe because it was written by his go to screenwriters Damon Linelof.
The film is held or centered around a star. Who goes the film it’s own kind of Wizard of oz. As he really is the star of the second half of the movie. As star Brit Robertson passes the baton from the first half but still stays in the running. Only pushed to the background. As she is still the audience surrogate.
The film steals seems to encourage the destiny dead Mom narratives with the encouraging dad father figure or just dad issues even though here her father seems to be a good one. He just doesn’t know what to do with her ambition and still seems oddly out of touch even though he’s in her life.
The film does get a little cutesy, but should kind of have a wide audience other than Disney adults and families. Even if it does tend to get a little plan towards the end yet positive and tries to be enticing. It’s idealistic not excellent, but good enough.
It’s like Epcot center in general, a fun ride yet tries to teach and encourage intelligence.
This film should have had a better box office and be talked about more. Hopefully it find its crowd.
Grade: B-
Cut To The Chase 