A true disappointment, this film just lacks magic.
After the disappearance of her scientist father, three peculiar beings send Meg, her brother, and her friend to space in order to find him.
There’s absolutely no substance to Ava DuVernay’s latest Disney film. It’s too heavy handed, is too simplistic and is so weighed down by talking about it’s very basic message that the story and characters never develop. While the film is targeted at children 8-12 (according to a pre-recorded message from DuVernay) it would be too simplistic and stupid for most to enjoy. The acting is forced, the dialogue is ridiculous, the CGI is lacking and the only good thing is the representation and diversity, which is often lacking in mainstream cinema - especially that which is targeted at children.
Oprah’s performance is one of her weakest, she seems uncomfortable and out of place, Mindy Kaling’s dialogue is so ridiculous that she never gets an opportunity to shine. Reese Witherspoon offers the best performance in the cast, the child actors simply can’t keep up. There’s some nice cinematography and a couple of sequences had the potential to be developed into something exciting, but this never eventuates. Also the film uses a soundtrack instead of a score and the constant rotation of pop songs don’t fit the tone of the movie, often drown out the dialogue and pull you straight out of the film.
Overall a disaster.
1 Star
Review by Benjamin Maio Mackay
Screening courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures
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