By Keith Walther | Rose Law Group Reporter
Universal and DreamWorks Animation continues to flex their dominance over Disney and Pixar. “The Wild Robot” is their latest triumph and will likely be a contender come Oscar time. Based on the novel of the same name by Peter Brown, the story is simple and straightforward but made with passion that makes the film anything but robotic.
A highly advanced robot by the name of Roz (Lupita Nyong’o) is marooned on an uninhabited island after a severe storm. The task-oriented robot sets out to search for the individual who ordered her, but quickly realizes that only wildlife exists on this island. Harsh environmental conditions and rough encounters with the animals leave Roz damaged and unable to return to its origin.
When a baby goose hatches in her metallic hand, Roz finds a new purpose that will become the most difficult task and strain the limits of her programming. She must find a way to keep Brightbill (Kit Connor) safe while helping him learn to swim and eventually fly great distances before a harsh winter takes hold. Unfortunately, he’s a runt with minimal chances for survival, so Roz seeks assistance from an unlikely source, a wily fox named Fink (Pedro Pascal). Together, these social outcasts must explore outside their programming to navigate the often-challenging undertaking that is motherhood.
Writer/director Chris Sanders is no stranger to creating quality animated films, having been a 3-time Oscar nominee for “The Croods,” “How to Train Your Dragon,” and “Lilo & Stitch.” It’s a safe bet that “The Wild Robot” will be his fourth nomination for Best Animated Feature Film of the Year, if not his first win. The primary reason he is so successful making these types of films is because of his commitment to focusing all attention first and foremost on storytelling. There is nothing really new about this story, but Sanders tells it with such emotional power that the audience can’t help but be riveted by it. He draws viewers in by showing pure vulnerability in the characters, creating an underdog mentality that people enjoy rallying behind.
The themes and messaging Sanders employs are also quite exceptional and timely. One of the more central themes is establishing community and setting aside differences to work together to overcome a common obstacle. Thinking outside the box, friendship, and of course love all contributes to the positive messaging of the movie. While these simplistic and altruistic ideals cater to a younger audience, Sanders also incorporates some more subtle themes for the teens and adults. He incorporates a backdrop of a post-apocalyptic Earth that has been ravaged by climate change, resulting in cities underwater and new cities created under a protective dome. This creatively shows a potential future due to the undeniable consequences of climate change our world is currently experiencing on an almost daily basis.
For the most part, the animation itself was top notch, but there were certain scenes that were curiously lower in quality. For instance, there was one scene in which the forest was on fire, and the fire animation was weak compared to the rest of the film, seemingly devoid of real heat or smoke which stripped away the tension from that moment. There was also a goof in the beginning where the robot was standing on the highest peak on the island, which was lush and green, while neighboring peaks were at much lower altitudes yet covered with snow. Despite the lapses in animation, Chris Sanders keeps the production moving at a fast pace with a surprising amount of action that holds everyone’s attention, young and old.
The voice cast is well-constructed, some more recognizable than others, like Ving Rhames, Bill Nighy, and Catherine O’Hara providing some comic relief. Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o (“12 Years a Slave”) brilliantly shows a slow transformation in her voice from being monotone in a robotically friendly sort of way to including more emotional responses as her character begins developing feelings for the animals around her.
There are currently two animated films in theaters that feature robots as the main characters, the other being “Transformers One,” and you can’t go wrong with either of them. “The Wild Robot” conjures comparisons to “WALL∙E” and “The Iron Giant,” with a heart and soul of its own that will appeal to small children and adults alike. This is a pure, fun movie with heartfelt, positive messaging that will leave you feeling fulfilled.
This movie earns:
