The day is finally here, The Good Dinosaur is in theaters everywhere! For the past two months, I have been sharing with you, the behind-the-scenes stories on the making of the movie. Today, I can finally share my review of the movie itself. Before we continue, first let me tell you a little about the movie and share with you the official trailer and the movie synopsis (see below).
In The Good Dinosaur, you meet a young Apatosaurus dinosaur named Arlo (voiced by Raymond Ochoa). Arlo is the youngest member of his family, he lives with his two siblings and their parents (voiced by Jeffrey Wright and Frances McDormand) at the family farm. Arlo is not much of a brave dino, the world truly scares him. His father decides that he will try and teach Arlo how to confront his fears. Unfortunately, after a family tragedy, Arlo is washed downriver, ends up bruised, battered and miles away from home. Fortunately, Arlo meets Spot (voiced by Jack Bright), a Neanderthal boy who offers his help, companionship and friendship. Together, they embark on a long journey back to Arlo’s family.
The Good Dinosaur Movie Review
“The Good Dinosaur” asks the question: What if the asteroid that forever changed life on Earth missed the planet completely and giant dinosaurs never became extinct? Pixar Animation Studios takes you on an epic journey into the world of dinosaurs where an Apatosaurus named Arlo (voice of Raymond Ochoa) makes an unlikely human friend. While traveling through a harsh and mysterious landscape, Arlo learns the power of confronting his fears and discovers what he is truly capable of.
The Good Dinosaur – Official US Trailer
If you read our Campfire Stories from The Good Dinosaur, you remember how much research went into the pre-production of the movie. So, let me just say, those research session paid off BIG time, the movie scenery is visually stunning. The grandeur of the vast open spaces is truly felt throughout the movie. If that wan’t enough, the story line is not overly emotional. Screenwriter Meg LaFauve and Story Supervisor Kelsey Mann, did an amazing job at finding the right balance of the emotional subject matter and still have room for a lot of comedic lines and scenes.
So, now let’s get down to business or the review itself. 🙂 From reading this blog, you know all the technical facts behind the movie from what I have shared with you guys. But what did I personally liked about the film? I can honestly say that the friendship between Arlo and Spot is one of my favorite parts. As a mother of two boys, who look up to their dad. I love the teaching moments Arlo has from Poppa and Butch (the T-Rex). Yes, I have to be honest here. For me the movie was very emotional, but for my kids it was just a funny movie with great characters. The movie is PG-rated, however, I don’t see why they got that rating. In my opinion, kids ages 4 and up will enjoy the movie a lot.
If the movie is visually stunning, you don’t want to miss the short film playing in front of The Good Dinosaur. Sanjay’s Super Team is a story mostly based on its Director, Sanjay Patel and his parents. Personally, Sanjay’s Super Team resonates with what I’ve lived through growing up. Therefore, in my opinion this short will also resonate with anyone who has migrated or was born here from parents who migrated to the United States. I cannot wait to see what Pixar and Director Patel will produce for us next! So, go see the movie this weekend and be sure to come back and share with us your own review.
Sanjay’s Super Team – Clip 1
In “Sanjay’s Super Team,” the new short film from Pixar Animation Studios, accomplished artist Sanjay Patel uses his own experience to tell the story of a young, first-generation Indian-American boy whose love for western pop culture comes into conflict with his father’s traditions. Sanjay is absorbed in the world of cartoons and comics, while his father tries to draw him into the traditions of his Hindu practice. Tedium and reluctance quickly turn into an awe-inspiring adventure as the boy embarks on a journey he never imagined, returning with a new perspective that they can both embrace.
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Disclosure: I attended a pre-screening of the movie to facilitate this review. No compensation was received.