Movie: Turbo
Director: David Soren
Voices: Ryan Reynolds, Paul Giamatti, Samuel L. Jackson and Michael Pena
Rating: ***1/2
No dream is too big. No dream is too small.
“Turbo” is based on the aforementioned line, which I think is hundred percent true. By the end of the film, I realized there is a Turbo in all of us. It’s that side that never gives up and assures us that eventually dreams do come true provided we put our heart into it.
Turbo, voiced by Ryan Reynolds, is, of course, as you might have guessed it by now, the name of the snail in the film. He has a dream too; to win a racing championship. How does a freak accident help Turbo achieve his impossible dream come true? This forms the rest of the story.
Turbo has the spirit of a fighter. Please don’t look at it as a character because then you won’t appreciate what the film wants to convey. Even though it’s about the story of a snail chasing an impossible dream, it doesn’t fail to connect with you instantly on an emotional level. It reminded me of several of my own unfulfilled dreams, which I never nurtured and left pursuing after a point in life.
This is precisely what I like about animation films. They are fun to watch but at the same time, inspire with a strong message. Most of us ignore these takeaways and enjoy the entertainment part to the fullest. I don’t blame us because movies are made for entertainment. But wouldn’t it be great to hear that a film is the reason someone is successful?
The characters in the film remind us of those who come along in our lives trying to make or break us in our pursuit of a dream. For instance, always protecting Turbo is his brother Chet, voiced by Paul Giamatti, who believes all of us are made by Mother Nature and have certain limitations, and when we try to go overboard, we end up failing miserably. However, it’s Chet, who towards the end pushes Turbo to finish what he started, and those few minutes were endearing to watch.
Then there is another character called Tito, co-owner of a Taco shop, who spends most of his time betting on snail racing. And when he stumbles upon Turbo, post the freak accident, what unfolds is delightful. The relationship between Tito and Turbo, even without words exchanged, is highly entertaining.
Turbo like any other animation flick has plenty of enjoyable moments. It’s technically good and has some kick-ass action on the race track, especially towards the end. One might argue of its debatable climax, but I wouldn’t mind because by then the film had already delivered what it had promised early on.
The animation in the garden, where everything begins, certainly brings out the beauty of the surrounding to perfection. But the lives of the snails are at stake during Gardener Day and when the maniac kid is on a tricycle.
David Soren wonderfully merges the human and snail community, and the friendship that’s born out of it is extremely amusing. It is reported that the story was born out of Soren’s hatred for snails and his son’s love for fast cars.
If you’re thinking Turbo is for kids and can’t possibly impress adults, then you might want to revisit the cast list. Michael Pena and Samuel L. Jackson as the voices of Tito and Whiplash have some of the best one-liners. Don’t miss it!
