Strange World (2022)

Strange World (2022)

5/10

 

Starring the voices of

Jake Gyllenhaal

Dennis Quaid

Jaboukie Young-White

Gabrielle Union

Lucy Liu

 

Directed by Don Hall

 

Strange World is a Disney box-office flop, and it’s not just the poor marketing to blame—the plot is boring and overly reliant on recycled ideas we’ve seen countless times before.

Disney’s 61st theatrical production failed to impress, and while the movie’s LGBT representation has sparked some discussion, it wasn’t as deep or prominent as some have claimed. It’s there, but it’s not “in your face” as some might suggest. The animation features a mix of CGI and 2D styles, but the voice acting didn’t stand out, and the characters felt flat and one-dimensional. This lack of complexity made the story overly predictable, more like something you’d expect from a TV animated movie rather than a theatrical release.

When the movie made its big reveal at the end, it did catch my attention and made me reflect on the story a bit more. However, by that point, the boredom I’d endured had already soured my opinion of the film. Aside from that twist, Strange World fails to live up to the standard of engaging and fun Disney animations we’ve come to expect since Frozen had everyone singing Let It Go.

The plot revolves around a land called Avalonia, which is surrounded by mountains. The people of Avalonia rely on explorers to discover new resources and ways to improve their land. The story’s hero and top explorer is Jaeger Clade. Jaeger and his family, including his son Searcher, are renowned adventurers tasked with exploring new territories in their world.

However, Searcher doesn’t share his father’s passion for exploring. During one expedition, they discover a plant that Searcher names Pando. Believing this discovery has the potential to change Avalonia for the better, Searcher wants to focus on studying the plant, while Jaeger insists on continuing their exploration. This difference in priorities leads Jaeger to venture onward alone, leaving his team behind.

Fast forward twenty-five years, and Pando has become the lifeblood of Avalonia. It powers everything—from their vehicles to their daily lives. But trouble arises when Pando starts dying, threatening the entire way of life in Avalonia. A new expedition is launched to the center of the land to uncover the cause of Pando’s decline and find a solution.

Unfortunately, I find it hard to recommend Strange World to anyone. The story is likely to go over the heads of younger audiences, and adults might find it as dull as I did.