I have a simple review to offer for a simple film: The Good Dinosaur is good. Just good.
Going into this movie my expectations weren’t as high as they usually are for Pixar films. The commercials and trailers have wow’d me in terms of their visuals, but the story has always seemed a bit flat. That didn’t stop me from wanting to see it though — I wanted to like this movie! I have always been a huge fan of dinosaurs and, of course, Pixar. The two combined? It sounded like a perfect storm.
What you see in the previews is exactly what you’re going to get from The Good Dinosaur. This is a coming of age story about Arlo and Spot, unlikely pals who end up finding some solace amidst tragedy. The dangerous journey to find peace is peppered with humor and good lessons for kids, but the film just never hits the emotional high you’ve come to expect from a Pixar movie.
There are some great moments in this film, no doubt. Certain scenes — like Arlo and Spot rising above the clouds and seeing their destination from a new perspective — can only be pulled off by an animation studio like Pixar.
There are also some great supporting characters, which are another aspect of Pixar films I always look forward to. The most memorable is a hippie-like styracosaurus named Forrest Woodbush (pictured below with Arlo). Voiced by the film’s director Peter Sohn, Forrest carries around a collection of animals who “protect” him in hilariously outrageous ways.
It’s too bad none of the supporting characters hang around for an extended period of time. Forrest can be missed while taking a bathroom break, and an entertaining trio of T-Rexes voiced by Sam Elliott, Anna Paquin, and A.J. Buckley don’t get enough time either.
Is this a film that will rank high amongst Pixar classics like Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, or Toy Story? No. If I had to rank this in comparison to other Pixar films I would put it low and near Brave. Like Merida’s tale, The Good Dinosaur is surprisingly shallow. Maybe Pixar should avoid telling stories involving forests, as they seem to struggle with finding depth in the woods.
The Good Dinosaur is a nice movie to see over Thanksgiving with the family. The characters are cute, the messages worthwhile. It’s light entertainment with beautiful visuals, stamped with a few (but not enough!) of Pixar’s strengths. If Thanksgiving is intended to be a relaxing holiday, Arlo and Spot may be able to make your vacation just a little bit better.
The Good Dinosaur opens in theaters Wednesday, November 25.
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