{"id":160771,"date":"2024-09-21T07:08:27","date_gmt":"2024-09-20T21:08:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/?p=160771"},"modified":"2024-09-20T17:32:24","modified_gmt":"2024-09-20T07:32:24","slug":"the-wild-robot-movie-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/the-wild-robot-movie-review\/","title":{"rendered":"The Wild Robot – movie review"},"content":{"rendered":"

School holidays are once again upon us, and there are plenty of options for some family friendly films to enjoy with Harold and the Purple Crayon<\/a>, the Australian film Runt, and the animated origin story of Transformers One. However, easily the best of the bunch is the superb animated The Wild Robot, which has been adapted from the trilogy of illustrated books written by Peter Brown. It\u2019s a beautifully animated and moving story that explores universal themes that will resonate with audiences of all ages.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The film is set in a not-too-distant future and centres around an AI powered multi-purpose machine known as the Rozzum Unit 7134, or Roz for short (voiced by Lupita Nyong\u2019o), a product of Universal Dynamics. Roz has become shipwrecked on an island inhabited mainly by forest dwelling creatures. The mission-oriented Roz soon learns all the different languages of the creatures that inhabit the forest ecosystem. But unable to contact the company to effect a rescue, Roz slowly adapts to life in the forest even though the animals initially regard her as a monster and treat her accordingly.<\/p>\n

She eventually finds her purpose in raising an orphaned gosling named Brightbill (Kit Connor, who played the young Elton John in the biopic Rocketman) and helping him to prepare to take place in the annual migration. She receives help from the mischievous and wily Felix the fox (Pedro Pascal) and Pinktail, an opossum (Catherine O\u2019Hara). As she moves out of her comfort zone and adapts to her new maternal role Roz becomes more human.<\/p>\n

The Wild Robot has been written and directed by Chris Sanders (Lilo & Stitch) who emphasises the themes of family, friendship, motherhood, community, not judging a character by their appearances, identity, and the very nature of existence. Sanders even celebrates a community coming together as one to protect themselves from an outside threat, and the film also paints a picture of corporate greed. These universal themes will resonate strongly with audiences and they lend the material a rich emotional resonance.<\/p>\n

Sanders\u2019 world-building is superb and he creates a richly detailed and grand natural environment. The visuals have been inspired in part by the works of Monet and Japanese master Miyazaki. The CG animation is spectacular and allows the audience to immerse themselves into this rich, unique environment. The film is richly layered with plenty of visual humour.<\/p>\n

The film\u2019s treatment of Roz taps into that same vein of cute, funny and almost human robot creatures such as R2-D2, C-3PO and even Wall.E. and Sanders imbues the material with a strong sentimental streak.<\/p>\n