The landscape of animated movies has been ever-changing. Over the years, animation has managed to pack a punch with audiences. Film franchises like The Lego Movie, Inside Out, and How to Train Your Dragon have emotionally stirred viewers to their core. Now, animated films come with an underlying stigma behind them. Can such films be for all ages and deliver an engaging story? DreamWorks’s latest film, The Wild Robot, hopes to answer such questions and join the ranks of those prestigious animated films.
Roz (Lupita Nyong’o) in DreamWorks Animation’s THE WILD ROBOT, directed by Chris Sanders. Photo Credit: Universal Pictures / DreamWorks Animation. © 2024 DreamWorks Animation. All Rights Reserved.
Based on the book of the same name, the film follows a robot named Roz (voiced by Lupita Nyong’o), formerly known as ROZZUM unit 7134. Built for the company Universal Dynamics as a helper robot, Roz’s transport ship crashes on a planet uninhabited by humans. As audiences follow Roz’s fight for survival and quest for purpose, she meets some friends along the way. Such friends include a sly fox named Fink (voiced by Pedro Pascal), who helps teach her the ways of the island. In such misadventures, Roz also cares for an orphaned goose and, in turn, finds a new purpose.
Movies like The Wild Robot often risk falling into a cloying sentimentality with over-dramatic beats and a deafening score telling viewers how to feel. However, this film pleasantly surprised me with its avoidance of these clichés. At its core, the story is about the relationships of mothers and sons. Director Chris Sanders, who clearly understands the potential pitfalls of such premises based on his work on Lilo & Stitch (2002), How to Train Your Dragon (2010) and The Croods (2013), navigates them here again with skill to deliver a compelling narrative. The screenplay (also written by Sanders based on Peter Brown’s book), which focuses on its engaging center character, is a testament to the film’s quality and avoidance of clichés, keeping the audience intrigued and engaged.
Roz (Lupita Nyong’o) in DreamWorks Animation’s THE WILD ROBOT, directed by Chris Sanders. Photo Credit: Universal Pictures / DreamWorks Animation. © 2024 DreamWorks Animation. All Rights Reserved.
The film’s core messages, while seemingly trite for a children’s movie, are actually universal and deeply engaging. The themes of friendship, family, and motherhood flow freely, and Sanders wisely understands that such ideas should not feel like a finger-wagging lesson for viewers. Instead, they should be packaged into a story for all ages, creating a sense of connection and engagement. These messages are wrapped up in an exciting and fast-paced adventure, which helps to keep the audience on the edge of their seats.
A vocal performance of a robot could be a simple feat. Like the goose she eventually raises as her own (later voiced by Kit Connor from Heartstopper), Nyong’o (A Quiet Place: Day One; Little Monsters) has to make Roz grow up and she delivers in ways that admittedly (in my view) could bring tears to viewers’ eyes. It’s such an engaging performance that viewers simply want to spend time with Roz. On top of the pure, stimulating visuals (simply wandering through this vast island is frequently quite a sight), that performance helps create a rather wondrous endeavor overall.
L-R: Roz (Lupita Nyong’o), Brightbill (Kit Connor), and Fink (Pedro Pascal) in DreamWorks Animation’s THE WILD ROBOT, directed by Chris Sanders. Photo Credit: Universal Pictures / DreamWorks Animation. © 2024 DreamWorks Animation. All Rights Reserved.
The moments when the characters, like Roz, Fink, and the young goose (eventually called Brightbill), simply interact have warmth and sincerity. Some may feel that those interactions are not enough for the story, but the plot is not as interesting as watching these characters interact. The conflict on display attempts to fill a running time with frustrating results.
Older audiences may struggle with specific narrative beats (no spoilers) seen repeatedly in other films. At the same time, it’s hard to deny that many will be invested in these characters, but the drama surrounding them never quite engages as it should. That is particularly evident near the film’s finale, which, while entertaining, prioritizes cheap thrills over the true heart. Thankfully, the third act manages to stick the landing.
L-R: Roz (Lupita N’yongo), and Brightbill (Kit Connor) in DreamWorks Animation’s THE WILD ROBOT, directed by Chris Sanders. Photo Credit: Universal Pictures / DreamWorks Animation. © 2024 DreamWorks Animation. All Rights Reserved.
Besides being a visually sumptuous movie with solid performances, The Wild Robot has a real humanity. Granted, the story wears the heart on its sleeve, but that is not a bad thing. Instead, it strives for audiences to feel moved and to (hopefully) shed a tear by the time the credits roll. Even with its narrative padding, the film achieves its emotional ambitions. The sentimentality never feels forced, building a genuine relationship between the characters. That helps make The Wild Robot a true treat for all ages. Funny and genuine humor mixed with a heartfelt story deliver thorough and exciting entertainment for the big screen.
In theaters September 27th, 2024.
For more information, head to the DreamWorks Pictures The Wild Robot webpage.
Final Score: 4 out of 5.
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Categories: In Theaters, Reviews
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