Every so often, we encounter an animated film that pulls at the heartstrings and immerses the audience in animation that reminds us of the magic of movies. That film is The Wild Robot, a big, beautiful, animated family film that may be passed down from generation to generation as an enduring classic.
The Wild Robot is a gorgeous film with nearly universal themes regarding becoming a parent. The film addresses themes of sacrifice, protection, identity, transformation, and a little thing called unconditional love that will fill your heart and maybe even bring a tear to your eyes.
At least, it did for me.
The Wild Robot’s Review and Synopsis
The story follows the adventure of Universal Dynamix utilitarian robot ROZZUM 7134 (Lupita Nyong’o), who crashes on an uninhabited island on a future Earth. With a pollyannaish attitude, the local wildlife activates the droid and is known as “Roz” by the few she befriends.
These include a sly and mischievous fox, Fink (Pedro Pascal). They meet after Roz accidentally rolls into a goose nest. Fink and Roz spar over the egg, but soon it hatches. Roz initially names the gosling “0001,” but they call it “Brightbill” (Heartstopper’s Kit Connor) because of gosling’s bright beak.
Then, a mother possum, Pinktail (legendary comic Catherine O’Hara), who has a group of adorable baby joeys that have the film’s best comic relief, gives Roz a mission—to protect and raise the gosling so she survives the odds of growing up on the island alone.
The Wild Robot is a Big, Beautiful Animated Adventure!
The Wild Robot is based on the internationally bestselling children’s book of the same name and is a brilliant adaptation by Chris Sanders (Mulan). The animated filmmaker has a history of crowd-pleasing fare, including How to Train Your Dragon, The Croods, Lilo & Stitch, and the underrated live-action Harrison Ford vehicle, The Call of the Wild.
The thing about Sanders is that he knows how not to waste the moments of the scenes that his films work toward. That is pivotal in family films because there are all-encompassing scenes that sum up feelings shared between generations, specifically parents and children.
This is evoked by Sanders’s animated team bringing beloved source material to life. The movie is gorgeous, with an emotive color palette that is bright and vibrant. This represents a tapestry of emotions of a main character learning to be human. The film begins to awaken the soul and stimulate the mind.
Is The Wild Robot Worth Watching?
The Wild Robot is worth watching. The final product absolutely justifies the price of the in-theater experience. The voice cast, including the legendary Mark Hamill, who voices Thor and the moody grizzly bear, is phenomenal. Bill Nighy’s elder goose is also full of wisdom and heroic acts.
Of course, The Wild Robot can be wickedly funny. The funniest lines come from O’Hara’s mother possum, who is hilarious here. I did wonder if Sanders’s script was too dark for children, even though some of the dark survival humor in the wild was on point. However, that is all beside the point.
The Wild Robot is a wildly entertaining, touching, and poignant adventure of the heart. Chris Sanders has carefully captured the essence of Peter Brown’s book, making it the year’s best-animated family film. The experience will make you laugh, even cry, and cheer — perhaps all at the same time.
You can watch The Wild Robot only in theaters on September 27th.
The Wild Robot Story Review — A Gorgeous Animated Family Film!
The Wild Robot is a wildly entertaining, touching, and poignant adventure of the heart. Chris Sanders carefully captures the essence of Peter Brown’s book, making it the year’s best-animated family film. The experience will make you laugh, even cry, and cheer—perhaps all at the same time.
