Robinson Crusoe – Film Review by Beatrice O’Connell

Directors: Vincent Kesteloot, Ben Stassen
Stars: Ron Allen, George Babbit, Laila Berzins

From the makers of ‘The House of Magic’ comes the animated film ‘Robinson Crusoe’. The film is directed by Ben Stassen and Vincent Kesteloot and produced by nWave Pictures.

Everyone knows the story of Robinson Crusoe right? Man gets shipwrecked on a desert island, all his shipmates perish and he is left to fend for himself for the next 30 years. Pirates, cannibalism, mutiny, all that jazz, great family entertainment. Well this isn’t that story.

This time the classic tale is told from the point of view of Tuesday, (Tuesday, not Friday, geddit?) the parrot.  After a violent storm a strange two legged creature is washed up on their island. Tuesday comes to realise that this creature, Crusoe, is his ticket out of here to explore the wide world. Crusoe in turn needs the help of the animals to survive on the island, but it takes a while for both parties to learn to trust one another.

They learn to live together in harmony until a savage feline duo instigate a violent take-over. In the ensuing battle Crusoe, Tuesday and friends learn the real meaning of friendship.

The quality of the animation and the storyline are not up to the standard that we have become accustomed to from the likes of Pixar. There is plenty of action though and it moves at a good pace. Robinson Crusoe is inoffensive formulaic fare aimed at a younger audience, especially if they like cutesy animals. The adults in the audience will not fare as well and there’s little to keep older viewers occupied. It may be an opportunity to catch some shut eye while the little ones are otherwise engaged!