Director: Peter Sohn
Writer: Meg LeFauve (Screenplay) Peter Sohn, Erik Benson, Meg LeFauve, Kelsey Mann, Bob Peterson (Story)
Starring: (Voice Talents) Jeffrey Wright, Frances McDormand, Marcus Scribner, Raymond Ochoa, Jack Bright, Steve Zahn, Anna Paquin
Plot: In a world where dinosaurs and humans live side-by-side, an Apatosaurus named Arlo makes an unlikely human friend.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Ice Age Pixar Style
Story: The Good Dinosaur starts when the asteroid that killed the dinosaur’s misses Earth, millions of years later dinosaurs still live on Earth. We meet a small family of dinosaurs where you have Poppa, Momma and children Buck, Libby and small dinosaur Arlo who doesn’t fit in with the rest of his family.
When Poppa dies, Arlo tries to step up only to find himself chasing the early human that caused the Arlo to fail that leads him to fall into the river and washed away from his family. Arlo has to find his way home but makes an unlikely friend along the way. The young human named Spot teaches Arlo to be brave as they have the adventure of a lifetime.
The Good Dinosaur gives us a fresh look at how dinosaurs could have lived on after the asteroid that killed them missed Earth, they all start acting like early humans. The story of adventure to survive against the odds needing to step up also really works well. Unfortunately, we just get a spin on Land Before Time and Ice Age which doesn’t give us enough fresh. This is a good film for the kids to see but doesn’t have enough for a wide audience.
Character Review
Arlo: Arlo is the smallest of the dinosaur siblings, he struggles to fit in with the rest of his family on their farm. One day he gets given a chance to prove himself only to fail leading to his father’s death, trying his hardest to step up he becomes lost in a world he has never faced before and it is now he learns to put his fears behind him. Arlo is a good leading character which is important to see a character needing to show how taking chances will make a difference,
Spot: Spot is the young human boy that is alone in the world, he scavenges food wherever he can to survive, he becomes friends with Arlo as they search for a way home. Spot is a good sidekick character that is like a dog but works against the dinosaur character.
Butch: Butch is a father of his own T-Rex family that helps Arlo along his way home, they teach him to be brave no matter what. Butch is a good twist on the T-Rex character.
Thunderclap: Thunderclap is the leader of a group of pterodactyls that use the storms to help hunt critters, they become the villains of the story. Thunderclap makes for a generic villainous character.
Support Characters: The Good Dinosaur has a generic supporting character list which all works for story.
Director Review: Peter Sohn – Peter gives us a good film but only one for the family to watch together.
Adventure: The Good Dinosaur does give us a great adventure story for the characters to go through.
Animation: The Good Dinosaur has typical high standard animation you would expect from Pixar.
Comedy: The Good Dinosaur does a few laughs but is too serious to get enough laughs.
Family: The Good Dinosaur is one for the family to watch with the kids enjoying the most.
Settings: The Good Dinosaur creates beautiful settings for the adventure to take part in.
Suggestion: The Good Dinosaur is one for the family to see with the kids. (Family Film Time)
Best Part: Twist on T-Rex.
Worst Part: Arlo and Spot get high.
Favourite Quote: Poppa ‘You’ve gotta make you mark’
Believability: No
Chances of Tears: No
Chances of Sequel: Could have one.
Post Credits Scene: No
Similar Too: Land Before Time, Ice Age
Awards: Nominated for 1 Golden Globe.
Oscar Chances: Likely to get a nod for best Animation
Runtime: 1 Hour 33 Minutes
Tagline: Tiny but tough
Overall: Land Before Time Meets Ice Age with a dash of the Croods
Rating
