9/10
A task-oriented robot gets washed ashore on an island inhabited only by animals, and is given a task to complete in the shape of an orphaned gosling. With the help of a local outcast fox, the robot raises the gosling. And as the gosling grows, so does the robot and the fox in the most shocking and lovely of ways.
This animated film from Dreamworks is lovely in every way, shape, and form. Honestly. I was charmed by everything in it: story, voices, animation…everything.
As a new mom, this story really called to me. When I got done, I raced home to give my adopted baby a kiss because it touched me so deeply. The idea of a mom that isn’t like you still being 1000% behind you, willing to do anything to help you succeed was so powerful. The relationship between Roz the robot and Brightbill the gosling was deep and fraught and touching…everything you want from a mother/son relationship. Seeing that relationship impact the entire island, starting with Fink the fox (Pedro Pascal) really shows you how the world can be impacted by the love of a good mom.
Lupita Nyong’o was terrific slowly melting from hard and robotic, into a softer voice in a way that you only notice at the very end of the movie. Pedro Pascal as Fink the fox was a great foil for her, with his slick turns of phrase. Then you introduce, Kit Connor playing the earnest Brightbill who wants to fit in but is left out of both of his worlds and it is a triangle that keeps you engaged and entertained the entire movie.
The animation was warm and different enough from your usual Disney fare to make it interesting. The side characters were multi-dimensional and I wanted to know more about so many of them. Hands down my favorite was Pinktail, the opossum (Catherine O’Hara). Every single time she was on screen I was ready to laugh.
My only complaint is the slow beginning. Audiences tend to be goslings too…we imprint early and hard. So, we get our intro to Roz (Nyong’o) and bond with her early, but I was left wondering what the true story was going to be for a while. BUT once we got into it, I was invested!
So, take a minute to grab your kids or your mom and go see this film with them. Hold their hand through the touching parts, and then go out for a hot chocolate after…you’ll be glad you took the time to do it.
