Look, my expectations were already pretty high. This was one of my most anticipated films of the year ever since I saw the first teaser and then avoided the others to get spoiled. But even so, I can't believe I'm about to say this, but this might actually be the best animated feature in DreamWorks history. Seriously, seeing it is believing. This is seriously one of the most visually gorgeous looking animated movies ever made. It's simply stunning from start to finish, full of enchantment and incomparable beauty that fills the screen with color and life. It really is as if it were a Studio Ghibli animation made from Monet's paintings, and there are times when it's even hard to process everything they have to show you. It's certainly the most impactful work of animation I've seen since the first "Spider-Verse" and an evolution of what the studio did with "The Bad Guys" and "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish", and if you hesitate, it's even more beautiful than all of them. I can only imagine what a beauty like this must be like on an IMAX screen and maybe even in 3D, and I will definitely go after that experience when it officially releases, but even in a normal XD theater it was a great spectacle that took my breath away at every frame.
The story itself is quite simple in concept and essence, and if there is anything that can lead to some people criticizing the film, it would probably be for that. But I don't see why anybody would do that because it executes everything it wants to do in an exquisite and irresistible way. I think people forget that even narratives as simple as this also require a lot of effort to make it work, and this film makes it seem easy because it doesn't even need to do much and it wins you over right away. It is an extremely moving journey from beginning to end and is full of very beautiful themes and captivating and lovable characters that deserve to be remembered. The pace is calm and knows how to take its time with the necessary patience, the action is measured but is electrifying when it happens, and the emotional moments hit hard but never with forced appeal, but rather because they earn them through everything they've built triumphantly. The humor and melodrama are balanced just right, although it is much more focused on the dramatic side, but it is one of those that just warms your heart in a very cozy and touching way. And the musical score is simply fantastic, really what an inspired work by composer Kris Bowers, there were times when it even gave me goosebumps when it played in the big parts of the film. And the voice cast is a delight, Lupita Nyong'o is wonderful as Roz and her voice performance is inspired and dedicated, as are Pedro Pascal and Kit Connor who inject a lot of charisma into their characters Fink and Brightbill, and the rest of the supporting cast is full of big names who are also strongly dedicated to the material.
This is the best example of what a great family film should be, one that delights all audiences in different but equally satisfying ways, that does the hard work of captivating its audience through its genuine effort and in such an efficient way that it is hard to know how they managed it. And quite honestly, I cried a lot during several parts because it got me so emotional, and sometimes not because something sad was happening but just because of the magic of being with those adorable characters. I have nothing else to say, just go and see it on the biggest screen possible and dive into this beautiful experience with an open heart, because I seriously doubt you won't like it. I'll say right away that I fell madly in love with this movie and it is now a strong candidate for my favorite film of the year, and maybe even possibly my favorite animated film of this decade so far. Of course, I say this only as my personal opinion and I don't want you to see it having these expectations in your head, I'm just being honest and telling you my experience with it and how much it captivated me. I would really like you to see it because I found this to be a special project, and movies like this deserve all the success in the world. If there are still stupid people who can't admire the art and inspiring work of everyone who works in animation, films like "The Wild Robot" are examples that put an end to any silly preconceptions that exist in this medium where imagination explodes free. Consider the race for the Oscar for Best Animated Feature done and if it doesn't win it'll be an ugly injustice, and who knows, maybe it will also get a nomination for the score if it can. I'm definitely gonna go see this several times in theaters, because this right here is pure magic, heart and enchantment, and if that isn't worth going to the cinema, I don't know what is.
