Title: The Wild Robot
Author: Mark Hobin
Category: Adventure
Content:
Rating 6/10
DreamWorks Animation (
Shrek,
Madagascar) presents the tale of an android named Roz (Lupita Nyong'o) who gets stranded on an island and has to figure out how to survive. Based on the popular book series by Peter Brown, the movie is brimming with beautiful computer animation with a painterly aesthetic designed to look hand-drawn. A family of otters discover a robot washed up on an uncivilized isle. Her full name is ROZZUM-7143. Constructed as a helper bot, Roz quickly acclimates to the new habitat, learning the various animals' languages. However, she cannot find anyone who requires help. While attempting to get her manufacturers to retrieve her, she accidentally destroys a goose nest and leaves only one egg. Roz takes responsibility for raising the hatchling and names him Brightbill (Kit Connor). She also recruits a sly fox named Fink (Pedro Pascal) for help. As Roz and Brightbill form a unique bond, the plot focuses on Roz's journey to care for the young gosling while getting to know the area's other animal inhabitants: a Virginia opossum (Catherine O'Hara), a Canada goose (Bill Nighy), a brown bear (Mark Hamill), a beaver (Matt Berry), and a peregrine falcon (Ving Rhames). Roz grows beyond the limits of her programming as she finds her place in this untamed region.
The Wild Robot offers a colorful adventure for kids and families but has more on its mind than a surface-level spectacle. The narrative explores the idea of what it means to truly exist. Roz starts as a automaton built to follow commands, but over time, she grows into something much more as she adapts to the island and connects with the animals. Roz is a cyborg, sure, but she also becomes a mother, a friend, and a protector. The account explores making these connections in a naive way. The early scenes that establish the foundation of the characters and their environment are fresh and imaginitve. However as the story progresses, it sucuubs to formula. Roz becomes more sentient, and the screenplay by director Chris Sanders (
The Croods) dramatically simplifies the complexities of how an artificial being might develop emotions in favor of crafting a heartwarming tale for children. Nevertheless, viewers of all ages will likely find much to appreciate in its innocent charm. This exploration of identity, transformation, and self-discovery has been explored in many animated films. This theme is especially present in the works of Hayao Miyazaki, such as
My Neighbor Totoro and
Spirited Away, which emphasize the connection to nature and the power of friendships. The chronicle also echoes the gentle, emotional journeys of pictures like
WALL·E, T
he Iron Giant,
Bambi,
Finding Nemo,
The Lion King,
Zootopia,
Big Hero 6, and
How to Train Your Dragon. While it's a familiar path, the story follows it with skill and heart. I mean, I'm all for that.
The Wild Robot illustrates that even a machine can reveal what it means to be human. 09-26-24
