Greetings again from the darkness. With four outstanding animated films released in 2024, this one adapted from Peter Brown’s 2016 book by director Chris Sanders (HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, 2010) stands above the others thanks to a tremendous story and fascinating characters. This is one for all ages and all types of movie lovers. It’s simply that good.
A new-age robot washes ashore. With no assigned customer and no programmed task, “Roz” is a bit confused on how best to proceed. This leads to a trip into the forest where she shifts to ‘learning’ mode, and soon enough is speaking to the various wild animals – finding ways to ‘help’ most of them. It’s a terrific opening few sequences drawing us in with awe and surprisingly … character connection. A tragic accident finds an undersized and orphaned gosling basically playing “Are You My Mother?” with Roz. The 1960 book by that name is a kids’ classic written by PD Eastman and edited by Dr. Seuss, and re-read countless times by most parents.
What follows is an incredible adventure featuring many different creatures, each with distinct personalities. Only these aren’t the cartoon characters we are accustomed to seeing in animation. None here are training for a solo on stage or strategizing to escape the zoo. These are wild animals in nature, and sometimes bad things happen … and sometimes good things happen. As bonds are formed and trust gained, it’s wonderful to see the community come together. Much/most of the story revolves around three outcasts: Roz the robot who is searching for her task, Brightbill the gosling who is ignored by the skein of geese migrating, and Fink the fox whose loneliness matches his sly manipulations.
A talented and deep voice cast includes Lupita Nyong’O (Roz), Pedro Pascal (Fink the fox), Kit Connor (undersized and orphaned Brightbill), Bill Nighy (Longneck, leader of the geese), Stephanie Hsu (Vontra, leader of the retrieval bots), scene-stealing Matt Berry (Paddler the beaver), Ving Rhames (Thunderbolt, hawk), Mark Hamill (Thorn the grizzly bear), Catherine O’Hara (Pinktail the possom). It’s a lineup of celebrities, but this is no ego exhibition. The characters are developed and story is multi-faceted. Some scenes are tense, while others are capped with humorous moments (“male bovine excrement” cracked me up). There is an overall guiding message of kindness, cooperation, and putting others ahead of self.
The film’s score is by Oscar winner Kris Bowers, and Dreamworks, in their ongoing rivalry with Pixar, has delivered depth and artistry instead of the usual cash grab on project for kids. Without a specific task to complete, Roz manages to be a guiding light for Brightbill and a partner to Fink, all while being an asset to the community … even though she looks a bit worse for wear by the end. For those who typically shy away from animation, this one is worthy of a watch. This is expert filmmaking.
Posted by David Ferguson 
Greetings again from the darkness. It all began with Alice Walker’s 1982 novel, for which she was awarded a Pulitzer Prize. Shortly thereafter, Steven Spielberg turned it into the movie event of 1985, with a memorable cast including Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, and yes, Oprah Winfrey. The film received eleven Oscar nominations, yet was shut out in all categories. Jumping ahead 20 years (2005), Marsha Norman created a musical stage book that turned into a smash hit on Broadway, receiving eleven Tony nominations. It was 2015 when the musical revival hit the stage, re-establishing the story as part of the fabric of the entertainment world. Along the way, Ms. Walker’s book had been frequently banned and censored, and the adaptations were sure to pick and choose what to cover and how to do so. Here we are forty-one years after the book’s publication, and director Blitz Bazawule (Beyonce’s BLACK IS KING, 2020) delivers a moving and bold film version (screenplay by Marcus Gardley) based on the musicals, the novel, and the original film.
Movie Reviews from the Dark 