The Good Dinosaur (2015)

The Good Dinosaur (2015)

6/10

Starring the voices of

Raymond Ochoa

Jack Bright

Sam Elliott

Anna Paquin

Directed by Peter Sohn

Here’s Disney/Pixar’s 16th CGI animated film, and along with Inside Out (2015), this marks the first time Disney/Pixar has released two feature films in the same year. The chances are, they may not do that again.

The Good Dinosaur lacks some of the early excitement that keeps you hooked throughout a movie. My main issue with the film is the story. While it’s new and different, the elements that make it up are all too familiar, making it easy to predict your way through the film. It starts with an ugly duckling tale and borrows from the classic lost-boy-trying-to-find-his-way-home storyline.

That said, the movie does pick up and becomes watchable. It has some dark elements that you may or may not find suitable for younger children.

The Good Dinosaur presents a fresh take on dinosaur stories, set in an alternate history where the asteroid that would have wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago passes safely over Earth. As a result, dinosaurs evolve into farmers and herders instead of going extinct.

With dinosaurs still roaming the Earth, prehistoric humans never gained dominance. Our first glimpse of human life shows a human baby presented like a dog or pet for a dinosaur. So, instead of a lost boy trying to get home with his faithful dog by his side, we have a lost dinosaur trying to find his way home with his faithful human baby pet, named Spot, protecting and helping him. The human barks, growls, sniffs, howls at the moon, and walks on all fours. Interestingly, we can understand the dinosaur’s speech, but not the human’s.

The writers and animators kept the cinematic environment familiar. We don’t see dinosaurs dressed up, driving cars, or flying planes. There’s no scientific advancement or societal structure. Instead, the movie shows dinosaurs running on land, taking care of their families, and using basic forms of technology.

The story follows an Apatosaurus named Arlo, who lives with his family on their farm. After a tragedy strikes the household, Arlo gets lost while trying to live up to his father’s legacy. As he tries to find his way home, Arlo befriends a human child he names Spot. Together, they face challenges and work to make it back home.

Unfortunately, this movie will likely be Disney/Pixar’s first box office loss, as it’s struggling to recoup its production budget. It’s on track to become their lowest-grossing film to date.