Jennifer Lopez has taken an interesting project under her wing! Her Nuyorican Productions is set to be at the helm of one of the most anticipated movies, i.e., Bob The Builder! The classic cartoon character has certainly been influential, and a generation of kids have grown up watching it.
So, turning it into a novel animated film might just be the hit of nostalgia they need to reminisce over the good old days. But before any announcements about its potential release or even a short teaser, the project is already being criticized!
Jennifer Lopez’s New Bob The Builder Version
The upcoming film isn’t just about building things. It intends to be an exploration of the rich Puerto Rican culture (via Deadline). And at the heart of the movie is Anthony Ramos, who will voice the titular character. His casting in the movie has led to considerable buzz because the actor is well-known for his role in Twisters, where he is one of the storm-chasers.
It seems he has agreed to be a part of the project because Bob will do more than physical building in the movie. The character would be fixing social issues, strengthening communities, and symbolically “building” the island around him.
The film will include visual and thematic elements from the rich Caribbean culture which will be central to the narrative. Felipe Vargas has adapted the screenplay with the intention of bringing Latin communities into the spotlight and spreading an uplifting cultural message about them. However, it seems the filmmakers have strayed too far from the familiar construction-focused storyline, or at least, some netizens feel they have!
Internet Reacts to the Moral Messaging in Bob The Builder
Netizens have a polarizing response over the decision to frame Bob The Builder as some messiah who’s going to fix an island. It seems that at times, the audience truly desires something that isn’t coated with layers of moral messaging. Moreover, they might get even more worked up if you tinker around with the characters they grew up watching.
Something that resonated with the young audience of the original show was Bob The Builders’ simplicity. They loved watching how he simply found joy in building things through teamwork and creativity. Perhaps it’s difficult for people to digest that their beloved childhood character might become a part of something that it didn’t originally represent.
On the contrary, it can also be seen as an opportunity to teach the current generations’ children about meaningful values with the backdrop of a culturally rich setting. Not everyone might believe it to be a worthy step forward, but it might be refreshing for some to see Bob embracing something more than his hammers and wrenches.
