THE WILD ROBOT (Released to Theaters USA 2024)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì The Wild Robot—unique and colorful—flows with heart and sentiment. This movie is great for family share entertainment night. It has good portrayal and presentation. Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline A shipping crate with a new robot inside washes up on a seashore. Forest animals  accidentally activate the robot after the crate breaks open.    Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Chris Sanders for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Jeff Hermann for making the film possible. Cast includes Lupita Nyong'o, Pedro Pascal, Kit Connor, Bill Nighy, Stephanie Hsu, Catherine O'Hara, Matt Berry, and Ving Rhames. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. The film could be interpreted as an environmental film but if that was the intent, know that it is not preachy and has a sweet story to tell. The multiple animal interactions increase the interest factor. It is a good child/adult share. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

THE CROODS: A NEW AGE (Released to Theaters USA 2020)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì 

The Croods: A New Age—good movie—gets better as it moves into meeting the Betterman family and picks up pace when everyone discovers the reason behind not eating bananas. The film is a great child/adult share movie from DreamWorks. Thank you to all involved in production. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

The  Croods look for a new home where life will be more comfortable. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Joel Crawford for directing efforts. Thank you to Producer Mark Swift for making the film possible. Cast includes Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Catherine Keener, Cloris Leachman, Clark Duke, Leslie Mann, Peter Dinklage, Kelly Marie Tran, Kailey Crawford, Chris Sanders, James Ryan, Gabriel Jack, and Melissa Disney,

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?                         

Yes. The film improves as it moves along and ends on a lovable high note. Even better than the first Croods movie, it earns its watch as a child/adult share movie and its place in the family home video library. Listen for the voice of Nicolas Cage reprising his role as Grug.  Great work for all involved.

 Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers

THE CALL OF THE WILD (Theatrical Release USA 2020)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.4|5.0 Starsìììì 

The Call of the Wild—better than the 1972 Charlton Heston interpretation—uses animated animals as did Peter Jackson in The Lord of the Rings. Especially note the animal, Buck, for exceptionally life-like animation except he seems more human-like and above the intelligence level of real dogs. This also seems to have affected the acting relationship between the dog and Harrison Ford at certain junctions in the movie. This is not considerably noticeable so that the story becomes affected. This is a good watch and quite entertaining. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

The story focus is about a dog, lost to its owner, who is taken to Alaska to act as a sled dog for mail delivery. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Chris Sanders for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Erwin Stoff and James Mangold for making the film possible. Cast includes: Harrison Ford, Omar Sy, Dan Stevens, Karen Gillan, and Bradley Whitford. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This movie bases itself on the classic novel of the same name written by Jack London. It’s one of the better renditions of this story. 

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers