The Good Dinosaur – Film Review by Emily Elphinstone

Director: Peter Sohn
Writers: Peter Sohn (story), Erik Benson (story)
Stars: Jeffrey Wright, Frances McDormand, Maleah Nipay-Padilla

Pixar has built a reputation in the last few years for making films that break the boundaries of traditional family stories, with smash hits like last year’s Inside Out. With their new release The Good Dinosaur however, there is a return to a more classic ‘animaladventure story’, with echoes of The Lion King and Dumbo.

The concept of The Good Dinosaur is a simple one: what if the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs actually missed, and flew straight past? Cut to millions of years after the event: Dinosaurs are alive and well, and have learned to speak, and cultivate farms. The hero of the piece is Apatosaur runt Arlo (Raymond Ochoa), who lives with his family on a farm near the Claw-Tooth Mountains. Afraid of everything, he struggles to ‘make his mark’. But when he falls into the river and is swept away, Arlo must find the courage to make his way home. Luckily nemesis-turned-friend Spot, the feral child (or ‘wilderness critter’ as the dinosaurs call them) partly responsible for his predicament, is on hand as guard dog, guide, and friend.

As a true coming of age drama with important lessons about courage, love, and having a sense of wonder and respect toward nature; there is an old fashioned feel to The Good Dinosaur. However, the film’s breathtaking photorealistic digital animation is anything but that; revelling in the detail possible with today’s computer graphics with possibly the most visually stunning Pixar film to date.

Pixar have been famous for toying with our emotions since their inception; and Peter Sohn’s debut feature will not disappoint, with its mix of heart-wrenching drama and well observed comedy. There may be moments of pure tragedy, but the brilliant range of characters including rugged cowboy T-Rex ‘Butch’ (Sam Elliot) and Hippie Pterodactyl ‘Thunderclap’ (Steve Zahn) keep the story moving; and hilarious moments including a hallucinatory dream sequence (careful which berries you eat!) mean that there is plenty to keep adults entertained, as well as young children.

Overall, The Good Dinosaur may not be as innovative as its predecessor, but as a new twist on a classic adventure story, it has the rollercoaster of emotions and enthralling visuals that will have you hooked right up to the bitter-sweet end.