Dumbo (2019)

Dumbo (2019)

5/10

Starring

Colin Farrell

Michael Keaton

Danny DeVito

Directed by Tim Burton

What Dumbo lacks in this live-action remake of Disney’s 1941 animated film is holding power. The film feels crowded with too many characters, and with the uneven flow of the movie itself, it just doesn’t capture the magic of the original Dumbo animation.

The only standout aspect of this movie is Tim Burton’s visual style. You’ll love the visuals, but you’ll wish the story was more engaging and the characters had more depth. Even the animals’ tale lacks the depth needed to draw you in. The child actors seem burdened with the role of adding drama to the movie.
Disney’s live-action remakes of their classics have finally hit a miss, and I hope the others expected this year won’t fall into the same hole.

The plot has been modified to feel more realistic, which, to me, was overplaying its hand since the movie is about a flying elephant. This fantasy film strays enough from the original animation’s plot but stays true to Disney’s happy ending.

In a failing travelling circus led by Max (Danny DeVito), a World War I amputee returns home to his family, only to find his wife has died and his children (a boy and a girl) are being cared for by the circus. Our soldier, Holt (Colin Farrell), was a performer with his wife in the circus, and now that he’s back, he’s unsure of his role. Max has just bought a pregnant Asian elephant and needs someone to care for it, planning a new show around the expected baby elephant.

The birth of Dumbo, with his big ears, is a spectacle Max isn’t ready for. He knows what will happen if the animal is seen and tries to cover up Dumbo’s ears. After a disastrous and tragic opening, Max sells Dumbo’s mother to recover some losses. Holt’s children take Dumbo under their wing, and while caring for him, they notice that his big ears allow him to fly when he plays with a feather. This discovery leads to a whole new adventure for the circus and Dumbo himself.

A reunion of Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, and Tim Burton is another thing Dumbo has going for it. This time, the roles are switched for our actors compared to Batman Returns (1992). While both are supporting cast members to Colin Farrell and his onscreen children, DeVito plays the good guy, and Keaton is the villain.

Dumbo has the Disney ending kids will love, but the movie lacks the Disney magic of fun and good storytelling.