Month: December 2023

Today’s quick review: The Guardian Brothers. As human faith in the spirit world fades, Yu Lei (Edward Norton) sets out to free the Nian, an imprisoned evil spirit, for the humans and the spirits to unite against. His brother Shen Tu (Dan Fogler) travels to the human world to try to stop him, but he soon gets sidetracked helping Rain (Bella Thorne) and her mother Luli (Nicole Kidman) save their family’s soup shop from closing down.

The Guardian Brothers is a Chinese animated family fantasy comedy. The story follows two brother spirits as they reconnect with the human world, which has largely moved on. The movie juggles between two subplots: Yu Lei’s misguided efforts to release an ancient evil in the hope of revitalizing faith in the spirit world, and Rain and Luli’s attempts to run the soup shop left to them by Luli’s mother.

The Guardian Brothers quickly runs into issues with its delivery. On the comedic side, the movie takes a scattershot approach. Many of its gags have characters acting goofy for no particular reason, and the movie crams in as many jokes, stray lines of dialogue, and musical cues as possible without worrying about how to make them fit. The result is a flurry of half-hearted jokes that are poorly conceived, poorly timed, and have no follow-through.

On the story side, the problems are subtler. The plot suffers from the same abruptness as the humor, introducing ideas as a matter of convenience and rarely putting in the work to set up its conflict. The premise of the story works just fine, and it could have been a touching tale about reconciling change and tradition. But the story structure is too disjointed to make this work, with few meaningful connections between the two subplots.

Even with all of these issues, The Guardian Brothers earns points for trying to tell its own story. The movie spends time laying out the rules of the spirit world and how the humans’ loss of faith has left the spirits without purpose. The fight to save Luli’s restaurant is not the most compelling story, but it could have resonated if given the right treatment. The Guardian Brothers does not achieve its goals, but it does have clear goals in mind.

How much you get out of The Guardian Brothers will come down to taste, but it has enough drawbacks that the average viewer will want to skip it. Plot issues, misguided comedy, and a clunky dub all keep it from capitalizing on its best ideas, while generally weak craftsmanship keeps it from having the same baseline appeal as its competitors. There is something here for a viewer with the right sense of humor, but most would be better off elsewhere.

For a more heartfelt animated adventure that explores Chinese folklore in a modern setting, try Over the Moon. For a more action-oriented story about a group of otherworldly protectors, try Rise of the Guardians.

[5.5 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4788934/). I give it a 4.5 for some new ideas held back by pervasive flaws in their execution.

Today’s quick review: Surf’s Up. Cody Maverick (Shia LaBeouf), a surfing penguin from Antarctica, gets the chance to make his dreams come true when he is invited to compete in the Big Z Memorial Surf-Off on a tropical island in the Pacific. But when Cody arrives, he learns that he is way out of his league. Now Geek (Jeff Bridges), a reclusive surf legend, and Lani (Zooey Deschanel), a compassionate lifeguard, must teach him how to really surf.

Surf’s Up is an animated family sports comedy about a young penguin who wants to become a great surfer. Styled as a mock documentary, the movie follows Cody as he learns about the true spirit of surfing. Surf’s Up has a simple setup that it puts to good use. The documentary format serves as a steady source of comedy, while the mash-up of penguins and surf culture works surprisingly well. However, the movie is held back by a limited plot.

Surf’s Up has a real talent for selling itself as a documentary. Not all of the movie adheres strictly to the format, but the well-placed narration, character interviews, and camera crew humor give Surf’s Up a comedic rhythm all its own. The movie is filled with short, funny character interactions that are perfectly timed. The voice cast also does an excellent job of making the dialogue seem off-the-cuff and natural.

The one major weakness of the movie is its plot. The story ape the structure of an underdog sports drama, but it skips as much of the formula as it can. In a certain sense, this is in keeping with the themes of the movie. Part of Cody’s training is learning to enjoy the sport and not be so competitive. But in practice, this attitude leads to an abridged plot that does not reach the triumphant heights of similar films.

Surf’s Up is a charming movie that is easy to overlook. Top-notch voice acting, subtly brilliant comedy, and a generally laid-back story make it a fun watch. However, the movie never quite commits to its story, robbing it of some of the structure and impact it needs. Give it a shot when you are in the mood for something light and creative. Skip it if you are looking for high stakes or something more memorable.

For a documentary look at the surf life, try The Endless Summer. For a more plot-driven animated comedy about an animal who longs to compete, try Turbo. For a comedy that pushes the mock documentary format even father, try This Is Spinal Tap or Zelig. For another animated comedy about penguins, try Happy Feet.

[6.7 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0423294/). I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for polished comedy wrapped around a mediocre story.

“Am I dreaming you, or are you dreaming me?” —Holli Would

Today’s quick review: Cool World. Rattled from his time in prison, cartoonist Jack Deebs (Gabriel Byrne) gets sucked into Cool World, an animated world of madness and vice that exists parallel to the real world. There he meets Holli Would (Kim Basinger), a seductive cartoon who desperately wants to become real. But when Jack tries to help, he runs afoul of Detective Frank Harris (Brad Pitt), a human who crossed over into Cool World years before.

Cool World is a surreal fantasy movie from director Ralph Bakshi. The movie blends live action with animation as Jack visits a bizarre cartoon world that runs on imagination. Cool World features a unique artistic vision rooted in the medium of animation itself. Its raucous spirit and freewheeling style help it capture the unrestricted nature of cartoons, but its adult content, grotesque art style, and ramshackle plot make it a niche pick at best.

Cool World’s vision will not suit everyone. The setting is a warped city populated by misshapen anthropomorphic creatures, violent criminals, and other shady characters. The inhabitants of Cool World ape the chaos and violence of classic cartoon characters with none of the accompanying joy, delivering humor only in the form of mockery and macabre slapstick. The movie also has overt sexual themes with nothing to temper them or keep them in check.

Even beyond its polarizing content, Cool World has issues. The script does a mediocre job of setting up the world and its conflicts. The audience gets a good feel for what Cool World is like but not the rules governing it, making it hard to tell what is at stake. The movie also has a bad habit of only introducing plot points as they are needed. As a result, the story feels cobbled together and rushed in spite of some promising ideas.

The characters suffer from similar flaws. Frank is the best of the bunch, a self-appointed cop torn between the cartoon world he has come to love and his lingering attachment to the real world. Jack is a swing and a miss, a one-dimensional character who shifts between stunned confusion and lust for Holli. Holli has genuine potential, but the movie can never decide whether she is meant to be a tragic figure, a cold manipulator, or a piece of meat.

Cool World will appeal strongly to a very niche audience. The movie explores the crude side of animation quite thoroughly, and fans of Bakshi’s loose, deformed art style will find the movie to be a rare treat. However, the same qualities that set Cool World apart also make it a poor fit for general audiences. Its odd art style, base subject matter, and badly flawed plot and characters mean that most viewers would be better skipping.

For a much more upbeat comedy adventure about a world of cartoons, try Who Framed Roger Rabbit. For an action comedy that blurs reality and fiction, try Last Action Hero. For a thought-provoking sci-fi movie set in a malleable world, try Dark City or The Congress. For an even more surreal animated fantasy film from Ralph Bakshi, check out Wizards. For a psychological mystery about a writer who retreats into his mind, try The Singing Detective.

[4.9 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104009/). I give it a 5.0 for unique ideas buried in a sea of off-putting content and story issues.

“Sounds awfully familiar.” —Bugs Bunny

Today’s quick review: Space Jam: A New Legacy. Basketball superstar LeBron James (LeBron James) has a hard time connecting with his son Dom (Cedric Joe), who would rather design video games than shoot hoops. Their relationship is put to the test when Al G. Rhythm (Don Cheadle), a vengeful AI, traps them in a virtual world. The only way out is for LeBron to team up with Bugs Bunny and his friends to defeat Al in a game of basketball.

Space Jam: A New Legacy is a sports comedy that blends live action and animation. Like the original Space Jam, a basketball star is whisked away to play a high-stakes game of basketball alongside Looney Tunes characters. A New Legacy throws a few new ideas into the mix, including a server full of Warner Brothers characters and a video game angle to the game. However, an unfocused plot and some questionable decisions hold the movie back.

First and foremost, A New Legacy is a love letter to Warner Bros. The Serververse is an excuse for Lebron to interact with not only Looney Tunes but a smorgasbord of other characters and franchises. The movie is flooded with referential humor as LeBron and Bugs visit world after world to round up Bugs’ friends. This leads to some fun jokes and unexpected surprises, but it gives the movie an artificial quality it doesn’t really need.

The other major issue with A New Legacy is that the Looney Tunes characters are upstaged in their own movie. Bugs and the others occupy a decidedly supporting role. They fill out LeBron’s team, mug for a few jokes, and lead a quick tour of the Serververse, but they never get the chance to shine. Instead, they are crowded out by LeBron’s story, Al’s grandstanding, and a deluge of video game mechanics and pop culture references.

Yet underneath these trappings, A New Legacy has the makings of a fun family comedy. The relationship between LeBron and his son is a solid base for the story. The humor is scattershot but hits the mark often enough to be entertaining. Bugs and his friends are still fun to see in action. And while the relationship to real-world basketball is tenuous at best, the game between LeBron and Al gives the movie a unique angle.

Space Jam: A New Legacy is missing the simplicity and heart of the original Space Jam, but it still manages to be a light and family-friendly adventure. Anyone in the mood for an eclectic comedy and a chance to see the Looney Tunes cast in action should give it a shot. But anyone with high hopes of a heartfelt sports movie, an expert comedy, or even Looney Tunes at its best should approach with caution.

For a much more focused take on the same concept, try the original Space Jam. For an ambitious crossover set in a virtual world, try Ready Player One. For an eclectic animated comedy with heavy meta elements, try The Lego Batman Movie, The Lego Movie, Teen Titans GO! to the Movies, or Scoob!. For a more straightforward comedy adventure set inside a video game, try Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle or Jumanji: The Next Level.

[4.4 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3554046/). I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for an enjoyable story bogged down with a lot of distractions.

“I never thought I’d say this, but Simon Cowell was right.” —Shaggy

Today’s quick review: Scoob!. Scooby-Doo (Frank Welker) and Shaggy (Will Forte) are whisked away on an adventure when Blue Falcon (Mark Wahlberg), a superhero struggling to live up to his father’s legacy, saves them from Dick Dastardly (Jason Isaacs), a villain who wants to use Scooby to open the gates of the Underworld. Meanwhile, Fred (Zac Efron), Daphne (Amanda Seyfried), and Velma (Gina Rodriguez) track Dastardly to his lair.

Scoob! is a family animated comedy adventure that puts a new spin on Scooby-Doo and his friends. As the teenagers try to figure out a way to take their crime-solving business to the next level, they find themselves wrapped up in an even bigger mystery involving high-tech superheroes, maniacal villains, and relics left by Alexander the Great. Scoob! succeeds with its humor and sense of fun but suffers from a cluttered and unfocused plot.

Scoob! features new CGI renditions of Scooby-Doo and the gang, filling in some detail in their designs without sacrificing expressivity. The humor is a mishmash of classic Scooby-Doo antics and pop culture references. Not all of the jokes hit the mark, but enough of them do to make the movie enjoyable from start to finish. Scoob! also has some nice surprises for Hanna-Barbera fans, with modern adaptations of several familiar characters.

However, Scoob! tries to be too many things at the same time. The plot jams together aspects of the Scooby-Doo mystery formula, a superhero story, a fantasy adventure, and a flurry of references, all without rhyme or reason. As such, the two character arcs of the movie—Scooby and Shaggy finding their place on the team, and Blue Falcon learning to become a hero—get buried under a torrent of competing ideas.

Scoob! is a hit-or-miss movie that pays homage to classic characters but does not always give them the focus they need. The movie’s freewheeling spirit and willingness to take risks allow it to explore new ground, telling the story it wants to without being bound by a formula. The drawbacks are an inconsistent world and a cluttered story that strays far from the traditional format. Fans of Scooby-Doo should approach with caution.

For a more focused reimagining of the characters, try the live-action version of Scooby-Doo. For a Warner Brothers crossover movie that takes a similar approach and runs into similar problems, try Space Jam: A New Legacy. For a sci-fi comedy adventure in something of the same vein, try Ratchet & Clank. For an eclectic animated comedy that handles its references with more grace, try The Lego Movie.

[5.7 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3152592/). I give it a 6.5 for fun humor and enthusiasm tempered by shaky fundamentals.

Today’s quick review: Lupin III: The First. For his latest score, the world-famous thief Lupin III (Tony Oliver) sets his sights on the Bresson Diary, a locked journal which holds the secret to an ancient treasure. To unlock the diary, Lupin turns to Laetitia (Laurie C. Hymes), a young archaeologist. But the two of them face stiff competition from Professor Lambert (J. David Brimmer), Laetitia’s manipulative grandfather.

Lupin III: The First is a Japanese animated crime adventure. Lupin and his gang of thieves return to steal the one treasure his grandfather never could. True to the rest of the series, Lupin III: The First is a lighthearted romp about a playful thief who uses his wits, disguises, and all kinds of gadgets to steal the treasure and beguile his enemies. Sparkling action, a solid story, and a dash of style make the movie a fun watch.

Lupin III: The First is a new step for the series, taking traditionally hand-animated characters and rendering them in CGI. Lupin III: The First handles the transition with grace, staying faithful to the look and mannerisms of the characters while layering on realistic backgrounds and materials. The end result isn’t quite as dynamic as the series at its best, but its scenery and its action are both a treat to watch.

Lupin III: The First’s main shortcoming is that it misses the chance to go farther. The story can be formulaic in places, coasting on well-worn ideas from the Lupin III series when it could have established new ones of its own. The movie still has enough novelty to appeal to fans who are familiar with Lupin’s tricks, but it’s missing a lot of the little flourishes and connections that separate a good movie from a great one.

Overall, Lupin III: The First is a breezy adventure that will appeal to new and old fans alike. In spite of a few missed opportunities, the movie captures the playful tone of the series and successfully updates classic characters with a new visual style. Try it out when you are in the mood for something light, simple, and unabashedly fun. Skip it if you are looking for a heist that is more down-to-earth.

For a more artful take on the same character, check out Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro. For a globe-trotting adventure with more elaborate cinematography and a similar art style, try The Adventures of Tintin. For an adventure with some similar plot elements, try Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

[6.9 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10621032/). I give it a 7.0 for enjoyable characters, a solid plot, and strong visuals.

Today’s quick review: Tales from Earthsea. Arren (Matt Levin), a young prince, flees his home after killing his father in a fit of violence. While on the road, he meets Sparrowhawk (Timothy Dalton), a wandering archmage who takes Arren under his wing. As the two travel through the countryside, they are hounded by the minions of Lord Cob (Willem Dafoe), an evil wizard hunting for the secret of eternal life.

Tales from Earthsea is an animated fantasy movie from Studio Ghibli. Loosely based on the books by Ursula K. Le Guin, the movie takes place in a rich fantasy world where the balance of nature has been upset. The story follows a young man haunted by his darker side and a powerful wizard as they search for the source of the disturbances. Beautiful visuals and a detailed setting are held back by shaky storytelling and slow pacing.

Much of Tales from Earthsea’ appeal comes from its world. The visuals are reminiscent of other Ghibli films: traditional animation with a focus on gorgeous scenery, humble character designs, and the details of daily life. The movie only scratches the surface of its world, but its scenic vistas and comfortable tone make it a treat to spend time in. The fantasy elements are also a plus: a fleeting glimpse of larger mysteries.

The story is not handled as gracefully. Tales from Earthsea has promising plot hooks and characters with the potential for growth, but its sluggish pacing and unresolved plot threads sap a lot of the interest it builds up. Rather than crescendo to a climax that ties together the movie’s themes and character arcs, the story coasts into a mediocre ending that mistimes its emotional beats and leaves important questions unanswered.

The result is a step down from the quality Studio Ghibli fans may be used to. Tales from Earthsea does a skillful job with its visuals and its setting, but it lacks the tension and emotional resonance of other fantasy movies, especially those from Ghibli. It is still worth watching for its strengths, but any viewer hoping for a storytelling masterpiece should approach it with caution.

For a much more potent fantasy movie from Studio Ghibli that also has a mature tone and environmental themes, try Princess Mononoke. For one that uses a similar art style to better effect, try Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind. For a more colorful Ghibli take on wizards and magic, try Howl’s Moving Castle.

[6.4 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0495596/). I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for pleasant artistry and a flawed story.

Today’s quick review: Dinosaur. Aladar (D.B. Sweeney), a dinosaur raised by a family of lemurs, loses everything when a meteor impact wipes out their island home. Escaping to the mainland, Aladar and the surviving lemurs join a herd of dinosaurs who are migrating to their nesting grounds. But Aladar’s altruism makes him an enemy of Kron (Samuel E. Wright), the herd leader, who believes that only the strong should survive.

Dinosaur is an animated family adventure that offers a dramatized glimpse into the prehistoric world. The story follows Aladar, his adoptive mother Plio (Alfre Woodward), her father Yar (Ossie Davis), and the other survivors of a cataclysm as they embark on a long journey to reach a new home. Dinosaur takes a very different approach than other family films, but its unique visual style and mature story help it carve out a niche for itself.

Dinosaur’s visuals are its most striking feature. Unlike other animated films, Dinosaur aims for realism, with just enough artistic liberties to let its animal cast emote like humans. The movie uses highly detailed CGI models of dinosaurs and other animals against live-action backgrounds. The net effect is occasionally uncanny but oten beautiful. Even though the graphics show their age, they are still like nothing else.

Dinosaur’s story is another outlier. Where many family films are tonally light, packed with humor, and limited to very specific types of drama, Dinosaur portrays a genuine struggle for survival in a harsh world. The movie does not shy away from showing death and predation, and its conflicts are almost all life-or-death. Balancing out the drama is Aladar, a surprisingly responsible protagonist whose optimism is infectious.

How much you get out of Dinosaur can vary considerably. At its worst, it is a visually jarring movie with a serious story and none of the cartoon charm that nearly all of its competition has. At its best, it pushes the boundaries of the available technology to bring its unique vision to life. Try out Dinosaur if you are interested in a movie that takes calculated risks, many of which pay off.

For a more cartoonish take on dinosaurs, try The Good Dinosaur or The Land Before Time. For another animated movie from Disney about a baby adopted by animals, try Tarzan. For a more comedic prehistoric adventure, try Ice Age.

[6.5 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0130623/). I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for impressive visuals and an ambitious story with hit-or-miss results.

Today’s quick review: The Good Dinosaur. Arlo (Raymond Ochoa), a skittish young dinosaur, lives on a farm with his father (Jeffrey Wright), mother (Frances McDormand), and siblings (Marcus Scribner and Maleah Padillah). When Arlo falls in a river and gets washed far away from home, he must face his fears and make friends with Spot (Jack Bright), a wild human boy, to survive the long journey back home.

The Good Dinosaur is an animated family adventure set in a prehistoric world where the dinosaurs never went extinct and early humans are beginning to develop. The movie fits in comfortably with the rest of its genre: a young protagonist embarks on a frightening journey to get back to his family. However, although The Good Dinosaur follows the formula faithfully, shaky story work and a weak vision keeping it from making a major impression.

The Good Dinosaur’s biggest issue is that its world feels empty. The movie goes to great pains to show the forests, mountains, and fields of Arlo’s home, yet there is almost no one in them. Arlo’s family lives alone on a farm, with no immediate sign of other dinosaurs, and for most of his journey he is alone with Spot, a feral boy who doesn’t speak. As such, the movie has little of the color and sense of wonder that similar films have.

The movie also misses with some of its core ideas. Arlo’s struggle to confront his fears works well enough, but there is almost no depth to it, and Arlo himself is not a very interesting character. The role reversal, where an intelligent dinosaur takes care of a dog-like human, is good for a few jokes but gets old fast. And for a movie nominally about dinosaurs, The Good Dinosaur seemingly tries to show as few of them as possible.

The result is a quaint movie that will appeal to some younger audiences but does not have the usual appeal of Disney and Pixar films. Completionists or viewers who are deeply interested in its premise may want to give it a shot. Many viewers will have better luck elsewhere.

For an animated comedy with a prehistoric setting and more personality, try Ice Age, Early Man, or The Land Before Time. For a similar plot handled with much more finesse, try Finding Nemo. For another role reversal comedy that paints humans in a different light, try Planet 51 or Escape from Planet Earth.

[6.7 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1979388/). I give it a 6.0 for a weak story with mild charm.

Today’s quick review: How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World. For the last year, Hiccup (Jay Baruchel), Astrid (America Ferrera), and the Vikings of Berk have been busy rescuing as many dragons as they can from trappers. But when Grimmel (F. Murray Abraham), a dangerous dragon hunter, comes to capture Hiccup’s dragon Toothless, Hiccup leads his people on a search for the Hidden World, the ancient home of dragons, where they can live in peace.

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World is an animated fantasy adventure that concludes the main story arc of the series. As the number of dragons in their village swells, the residents of Berk are left with the problem of how to keep them safe from humans who want to ensalve them. The Hidden World continues the series tradition of immersive world-building, flashy action, and deft character work, making it a worthy conclusion to the trilogy.

The Hidden World builds skillfully on the foundation laid by the first two films. The characters have grown during the time since the last film, but they remain the same people. Hiccup has stepped into his father’s role as chief, and now he faces the prospect of taking the village into a new era. At the same time, he struggles to give Toothless the space he needs when his dragon falls in love with a female Night Fury.

The film also has plenty of spectacle. The graphics are another refinement on the previous entries, with better particle effects and more detailed outfits for the characters. The action is as solid as ever, with fast-paced dragon combat, rollicking melee brawls, and large-scale battles. The battle scenes themselves do not quite reach the heights of the previous film, with a slightly weaker climax, but they buttress the story very well.

The Hidden World has a few minor flaws not shared by its predecessors. The plot moves at the pace of Hiccup’s ideas, with the villagers following his lead without much argument. The film finds plenty of other conflicts to keep Hiccup busy, but the lack of pushback leads to a series of abrupt status quo changes as Hiccup tries out new ideas. The Hidden World also has more of a bittersweet tone than the previous films.

Any fans of the series should check out How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World. It carries forward the strongest elements of the previous films, incorporates its own additions to the world, and serves up a satisfying conclusion to the story. How you like it compared to the other films will come down to taste, but anyone with a yearning for heartfelt fantasy adventure would do well to give it a try.

7.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for exciting action and a fulfilling story. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2386490/