The Wild Robot

<<

Now Playing

>>

Every once in a while, a movie comes along that just leaves me with a big smile on my face, and 'The Wild Robot' here is a shining example of such a movie. Such films tend to include a vast innocence about them, but have the occasional adult joke, or over-the-top sight gag built in, so it can appeal to older audiences as well. The other thing about them is how clever the writing and storytelling is, in that while they can be good movies for kids, there's nothing about them I see as an adult as being so called "kid's stuff."

Generally speaking, Pixar is the undisputed king company of such animated movies. But DreamWorks did a great job with this trailer in reminding us that they can definitely deliver the goods as well, with groundbreaking series like 'How to Train Your Dragon,' (which really made us appreciate how good flight looked in 3D) and 'Shrek' (which began the "Best Animated Picture" Oscar category). 'The Wild Robot' here is absolutely the next in line for the go-to DreamWorks series. Between it being ultimately successful, and based on a book series, a sequel is already in the works as I write this.

It all begins when a cargo ship crashes somewhere in the wilderness, losing six "ROZZUM" robots; AI robots that can assist with more physical tasks in order to make our lives easier. One day, one such robot is accidentally activated by the local wildlife, and would eventually become known as "Roz" (Lupita Nyong'o). In attempting to help the animals, she ends up scaring them all instead. On one failed attempt, she's sent tumbling into a goose nest, crushing everything except for one lone egg.

Eventually the egg hatches, and an adorable gosling eventually named "Brightbill" imprints on Roz, giving her purpose to essentially serve as Brightbill's "mother" until he's ready to fly south with the other geese for the winter season. She even gets help from a reluctant fox named Fink (Pedro Pascal), who would normally see Brightbill as a meal. The whole process of getting the little guy up and flying is cute, often funny, and often heartwarming. Best of all though, you'd think that would be all there was to the movie, but there's actually quite a bit more.

Brightbill actually takes off on his flight about half way through the movie, but that doesn't make Roz's learning experience end. She further learns about the harshness of winter, and what it means to hybernate, while she awaits the arrival of her little gosling, which is months away. During this time, she works with the rest of the local wildlife in an attempt to create peace among them. Meanwhile, a lot of Brightbill's abilities are tested on his flight when he faces danger here and there, and is made to move up from his underdog position in the flock.

I could see this as a learning experience about facing inexperience and the anxieties that come with it. Roz, a robot, has to become a mother figure to Brightbill, and the old tale about AI growing emotion is a part of it, but in a much more positive way than we usually see. Brightbill has to try to learn to fly with an improper teacher, and learn to be among strangers who tend to dislike him. Fink, perhaps harshest of all, has to learn to go against his most basic instincts as a predator, and it does not end with Brightbill looking tasty.

This was a title that warmed my heart, left me smiling, and further shows that animated movies aren't just "cartoons for kids." This was a pretty great story that covers a lot of ground, and it comes as a high recommendation from yours truly for something a little more family friendly. I'd put it somewhere between 'The Iron Giant' and 'WALL-E' as far as what it reminds me of in quality, and those are two of my all-time faves. So get the family together and check it out, because there's a lot to appreciate about it!

5/5

---