[NOTE: This review is partially adapted from my reaction to The Wild Robot following its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival]
Defining stakes is a tricky subject for a film aimed at an all-ages audience. Obviously, they are a key component in getting viewers invested in the characters and the story, but that comes with an effort not to scare or traumatize younger viewers. Too much pacing can make a work take on a walking-on-eggshells quality that makes everything feel hollow. Chris Sanders The wild robot It doesn't fall into that trap. It's a film for all ages that deals extremely directly with the realities of life and death and, combined with humour, sentiment and extraordinary beauty, is a tremendous delight for the big screen.
The wild robot
Release date: September 27, 2024
Directed by: Chris Sanders
Written by: Chris Sanders
Starring: Lupita Nyong'o, Pedro Pascal, Kit Connor, Bill Nighy, Stephanie Hsu, Mark Hamill, Catherine O'Hara, Matt Berry and Ving Rhames
Classification: Rated PG for action/peril and thematic elements.
Duration: 102 minutes
The wild robot It's based on the book series of the same name by author Peter Brown and takes you across the emotional spectrum while surprising you with its style. Sharp wit combined with dark sensibilities results in big laughs that come peppered with a light punch, and while that grabs you, the touching story of fatherhood is what will make you hold the film deep in your heart. The characters' journeys are wonderful and the animation is surprising and inventive.
The talented Lupita Nyong'o lends her voice to ROZZUM's Unit 7134, known simply as “Rozz,” who appears on an island. After powering up, the robot quickly follows its main program: find a task and complete it. It takes Rozz no time at all to alienate the entire animal population with his aggression, and learning to translate their languages doesn't help right away. But ironically, things start to change when the main character does something terrible: after a fight, he lands on a nest, kills a goose, and breaks several eggs.
One of the eggs is not harmed, and Rozz sets about protecting it. When the goose, a dwarf named Brightbill (Kit Connor), hatches, a helpful possum named Pinktail (Catherine O'Hara) explains that the robot must feed the bird and teach it to fly and swim so it can migrate before winter. Working with Fink (Pedro Pascal), a fox who initially partners with the naive automaton with the intent of exploiting him, Rozz works to raise Brightbill so he can survive his first trip off the island.
The Wild Robot takes a hard-hitting approach to life, death, family and community, and it's phenomenal.
Life on the island among the animals is kill or be killed, and Brightbill, unable to fly away to spend the winter with the other birds, will freeze to death. These are harsh realities, but The wild robot She doesn't shy away from them, instead embracing them in comedic and emotional ways. Instead of tap-dancing about mortality and the dangers of the world, there's a moment during Pinktails' performance where she identifies herself as a mother of seven children… but then quickly changes that number to six after a chomping sound off-screen.
But it's about more than just being comically morbid. The wild robot There are jokes about death, but the audience laughs and at the same time understands how important the story is. If Rozz can't help Brightbill overcome his genetic defects and not only learn to fly but also have the stamina to travel long distances, nature won't forgive him. Given the incredible sweetness of the father-son relationship, one becomes invested in not seeing that happen.
Lupita Nyong'o leads a special cast in The Wild Robot, all of whom bring a special charm and humor.
That central bond in the film is magnificent, with Lupita Nyong'o and Kit Connor delivering performances that will take your breath away, but you'll also end up caring about all the wildlife they have as neighbors – the voice cast not only includes the great talents of Pedro Pascal and Catherine O'Hara (both bringing outstanding comic timing), but also Bill Nighy as the leader of the goose migration, Matt Berry as a beaver tirelessly trying to gnaw through the island's largest tree, Ving Rhames as the falcon enlisted as Brightbill's flight instructor, and Mark Hamill as the island's least friendly creature – a massive grizzly bear. All of the actors bring a special spark that adds even more color to an already wonderfully colorful world.
The Wild Robot is incredibly beautiful and one of the most surprising produced by DreamWorks Animation.
With an aesthetic reminiscent of a painting coming to life, the fur and feathers have the texture of brush strokes, The wild robot It’s engrossing from the very beginning, when a pair of otters find Rozz in a broken box that’s washed up on the shore of the island. Aside from the style making you want to reach out and pet every wild furry creature (no matter the temperament), the main character’s physicality is outstanding. Rozz’s build constantly twists and turns with a combination of quick reflexes and his body instantly adjusting to his surroundings, and it’s a blast (the environment visually taking its toll throughout the story is also a powerful tool in cultivating affection for the protagonist, further increasing the importance of illustrating that the eponymous hero is also mortal in his own way and makes a sacrifice).
While there are still three full months left in 2024, it's hard to imagine that time will see the release of a better animated film than The wild robot; Without a doubt, it already stands as one of DreamWorks Animation's best films. With its maturity, humor and heart, it seems destined to leave a long legacy, as everyone can enjoy, accept and empathize with everything it has to say.