Honestly, I do not understand how they get such a low score. The film had a beautiful story, with an interesting morality and very important for the life of anyone in the world, this in a fun way. In addition, the film had fabulous characters, beautiful scenes, good actors, beautiful animation and great intelligent humor. Highly recommend.
Add a Review
-
afonsobritofalves17 April 2019
-
ourkingfamily22 June 2019I thought this was a great family movie! It seems there is a hard change from kid movies to adult movies. I like that this is another one that we can all watch together.
-
Nickelodeon Movies are back with another movie under their belts, this time back to animation once again, with the concept of a theme park brought to life by a imaginative girl, sounds super promising and could be a strong animated film, so I was pretty excited for the movie after the teaser, with it's perfect choice of music and beautiful visuals, the other trailers went in a comedic way which didn't quite grab me but other wise it's still got me interested, but after it was released in the US, I have not heard great things about it, in fact it sounded quite underwhelming, which is ashamed because from the teaser, it seemed like the animated film that would deliver something strong, so I saw it a few weeks after the US release and....... it really wasn't that bad, I know it's not great but it's watchable at best, so let's talk about it.
June always imagined being the theme park of her dreams to life called "Wonderland", with the help of her Mum (Jennifer Gardner), with animal mascots based on her toys, Greta (Mila Kunis), Steve (John Oliver), Gus, Cooper (Joe Sugg, Casper Lee), Boomer (Tom Baker) and the main mascot and ride creator Peanut (Norbert Leo Butz), but after June's Mum gets ill and is taken to hospital, the darkness in Wonderland is brought in and takes over the park with cute Chimp toys that turn into Chimpanzombies that are now tearing the park apart, so it's up to June to go to the park and help her friends to save the park, well i mean.... you can guess from there what is going to happen, it's pretty predicable from top to bottom, you know what will happen and it will end exactly like how you would imagine, it doesn't take any risks or become interesting since despite it's unnecessary PG rating, it's a safe piece of fluff, with a weak script and it felt so rushed with nothing a lot to take from it, that and the moral and it's theme is all over the place, however despite all that, the movie's execution isn't too bad, it makes up for it with decent comedy, scenes that are generally fun and exciting at times to watch and the first few minutes before June heads off to Wonderland, are probably the best parts of the movie, it's touching, funny, strong and it has a decent set up for the movie, however half way through it grinds to a halt and just becomes a perfectly watchable film, the writing may has not saved the movie with it's predictability, bland and generic elements to it, confusing and rushed, it does save it with it's heart, chuckleworthy comedy and the first thirty minutes being great, so in a way, it's Splendiferous!.
The animation is easily the best thing about the movie, but at the same time it's also the thing that makes the movie not very.... well "movie" worthy, first off it is a very beautiful looking movie, there is a lot of effort that has gone into making the movie, the different rides, the character designs and scenes where the rides malfunction are very well done, making it a pleasant film to look at, however!...... it's not the best looking animated film out there, although it's a impressive looking movie, it's also a very bland looking film, most of the characters look like it was done by a animation student, the Chimpanzombies look very basic and far too similar to the Minions and out of most the animated films, this one feels like it belongs to Netflix, not on the big screen with it's quality and especially opening and ending credits, but despite that, the animation is still a beautiful, but yet fun ride!.
The characters are fine as they are, nothing about them stands out, but they aren't bad at all, June is quite likeable and relatable, although a bit bossy and bratty and a tad bit annoying but likeable, Peanut is probably the best character since he is delightful, interesting, loveable and funny, the other animals don't offer a lot, they deliver personality that may seem stereotypical, like Greta is the boss, Boomer is the one who always falls asleep, Gus and Cooper are the brothers who always fight with each other and Steve is pretty much the comic relief who has a crush on Greta, they are fun I guess?, but pretty forgetful, the parents are okay, although June's Mum has relatability and her chemistry with June is quite sweet honestly, other characters like Banky don't do anything to the movie besides being June's friend and love interest with not that much chemistry, however the voice acting is great, Brianna Denski does a good job as the voice of June, Norbert Leo Butz is spectacular as Peanut, Tom Baker is charming as Boomer, Mila Kunis is fun as Greta, John Oliver is amusing as Steve, as for YouTube vloggers Joe Sugg and Casper Lee, they are okay..., nothing special, just basic and doesn't stand out, but not a bad performance, the characters are a mixed bag, sometimes they have wonderful performances by great actors with some entertaining, relatable and likeable characters, on the other side, they are basic, nothing special, not very interesting all that much and are just stereotypicals.
*sighs* Oh Nickelodeon Movies..... you were close to going back to the 2011's when you did animation in a amazing way, i mean... it's good to see ya back and all, but I'm a bit underwhelmed and kinda disappointed with your new film, it is better then Monster Trucks, I mean far better!, but.... not all that great, Wonder Park is a passable, watchable, perfectly fine animated film, kinda like this year's Boss Baby if you will, it has beautiful animation, a great concept, good voice acting, some funny and likeable characters and it is quite fun, this movie could of been a really strong and powerful movie about childhood and imagination, like Spike Jonze's 2009 adaptation of Where the Wild Things Are, however unlike that film, Wonder Park didn't quite hit all the right notes with a predicable story, animation that feels like it came from Netflix, comedy that is juvenile, characters that are nothing special and it feels confusing at the same time, so it's pretty good, but not amazing...., which is a shame, I can see this movie working as a well crafted original movie, but it doesn't quite get that..., honestly if they released this to Netflix then I would of been a bit more forgiving, but as it is, it's..... just fine, if you want to take the kids to see something colourful and that will keep them quiet, I guess go and see this, although Missing Link is still out and that one is far better, take the children to see that, but if you are interested, then see it, it's really not as bad as people are putting it, ignore the critics and form your own opinion on the movie, as for Nickelodeon Movies, maybe the TV series might be better and I hope they improve from this movie, maybe a Tintin sequel or a original movie?, but for now, we'll have to wait and see.
I'm going to give Wonder Park a 7.2/10. -
cameroniacono15 March 2019Wonder Park is a movie that has a pretty cool premise and potential but doesn't quite reach greatness. One issue is the pacing of the films tone, during the first arc it's back and forth between whimsical, cutesy, funny and then dramatic until we get the park. The humor isn't laugh out loud either but their are some laughs to be had. One of the films strong points are the action sequences like the introduction the park at the very start and when June and the mascots are dodging the oncoming destruction of the park set foot by the zombie sock monkey toys (I can guarantee you this is the only movie to that zombie Sock monkeys).
The characters are typical but likable but the relationship with June and her mom is one of the films strong points they get along real well and they time their on screen together is just so precocious and Junes arc of dealing with uncertainties of weather her mom can return to her is when the film has it's best moments. Though the pacing is better in the middle of the film it still isn't smooth as butter I don't wanna spoil too much but there's a scene in which the mascots believe June betrays them and it's shown as a big deal, but the next day after helping with the one of the rides, she regains all their trust instantly.
I'm pretty sure the films issues have to do with the directing, there was some drama where the director was called out for harassment charges and had to leave production, so the studio had to carry on with either a new person in charge who has not been credited as of yet or they pressed forward with what they had done so far, and it's pretty sad cause this movie could have had it's issues ironed out and given likely would have dodged a lot of the criticism thrown it's way.
The movie isn't a broken mess it's just their was a lot more that could have been done with it, as it stands now it's a fun movie even if it feels unfocused and has some mood-swings with the tone from scene to scene. It's also a pretty short movie too.
I should also note that much like Jimmy Neutron Boy genius and Big Hero 6, Wonder park is getting TV series that will air on Nickelodeon in the not too distant future and hopefully Wonder Park gets more justice done their. -
viniciusaugustomkt14 March 2019An explosion of colors! This is the impression that remains after watching "Wonder Park", a long animated film that has been shot in theaters. The script of the duo Josh Applebaum and André Nemec tells the story of June (or Jujuba in the Brazilian version). She is an optimistic and creative little girl who with her mother invents an amusement park with her imagination. Of course the park does not exist until June sees with its own eyes.
The park in shambles and at war with himself coincides with June's departure from his optimism and imagination. June realizes that only she can rebuild the park. The story is lightly predictable but captivating nonetheless. She is the backdrop to this onslaught from Nicklodeon Movies and Paramount Pictures.
Visually speaking is a spectacle of colors. It gives the impression that we immerse ourselves in a rainbow in the form of animation. The charismatic characters of the park give an important counterpoint. But most of all I think that "Wonder Park" comes to meet an audience that does not always find productions for itself.
I'm talking about children between the ages of 3 and 6 who live this transition between the world of imagination and the world of reality. I watched the film in the movies, surrounded by these children and I was able to follow their emotion. After all, they have not yet seen "Toy Story", maybe they have not seen "Sherek" yet. "Wonder Park" falls like a glove for this audience who longs to discover the cinema, the big screen and its colors.
The plot works great with them. They all end the movie by screaming out the park slogan. Everything is "Very cool!" It's not Pixar, it's not Disney, it's not Dreamworks or Sony. I'm happy to see other players in the market venturing into full-length animations. This is a "most spectacular" point, as well as seeing excited children who, in this case, draw more attention than the film itself. -
castoirebenjamin20 March 2019It's has been an entertaining experience for myself, every time I take my children to see a kids movie. I too laugh and am entertained by kids movies, I'm a child at heart. In this case, I fell asleep 3 or 4 times. This is not a movie for big kids like myself, but my children seemed to enjoy it. I rated it a five, for myself but my 5 yr old rated it 100. This movie is not for us big kids.
-
stevendrossy15 March 2019Cute movie that both my young boys loved. That's all that mattered really
-
chrisrock-0893316 March 2019This movie was dark and depressing for a kids movie. The storyline is very heavy and revolves around a little girl trying to cope with her mother getting very sick (assuming cancer). The movie has great visuals and some fun characters but it all feels weighed down by the plot. The previews made it look like it was lively and full of enchantment, but unfortunately it's not. Don't get me wrong, the message overall is ok, just too much for small children. Your kids may have anxiety about losing a parent after watching this one.
-
sarahfoster-2512018 March 2019It's a very uplifting and fun! My 3 yo and 5 yo loved it and it kept them entertained the entire time! While it's not the most exciting for adults it was still refreshing to see a non Disney movie that's worth seeing!
-
I fell asleep for 20 minutes, my my wife fell asleep for 40. My son, who LOVES theme parks (we live 1 mile away from a major roller coaster park) asked to leave in less than one hour.
There is very little plot, and the whole movie doesn't really make much sense. I don't really understand how anyone can care about any of the characters or what happens to them afterwards. The dad has very little to no roll at all.
I was thankful to be leaving the theater after only about 1.5 hrs or so. At least the previews were good.
Catch this one at Redbox or netflix if you must.
It was so bad, I finally decided to write my first review to warn people. -
awsomemegas20 March 2019So first off this movie is just amazing. It had me laughing, crying and just filled with emotion and investment throughout the whole movie.
You will notice an unfortunatly large amount of negative reviews about this movie and I have to say please moderate the ones you know have no thought in them.
The ones I speak of are every single one that only says "this movie is sad. My kid didn't like it. Not for under 6."
OF COURSE IT'S NOT!
So for parents. Here's the thing, judge movies you wanna show your kids based on how you wanna raise them but please think before you simply just say something that has absolutely no actual thought behind it as it does impact the enjoyment older kids get from studios endeavors.
This is the first non SpongeBob (ugh) nickelodeon movie in decades. An original ip that came out of nowhere. Think very carefully about that. The reason is because SpongeBob is known, "safe" even though it clearly isn't smart for the most part after its first half of seasons, and parents just don't want to think too hard about what their kids see.
This. Is. A. Horrible way to watch movies for ANYONE! Not just kids. You can not care what you watch but kids need stimulating thought provoking innovative ideas that will carry them through the world they have to navigate and learn about. So being sad is an emotion of which kids feel and need to feel and discuss with you a parent in order to grow.
So where does that leave this movie? Mixed honestly. Someone like me loved it for it's imagination, it's heart, the main character and her drive to invent, create and ultimately rediscover why it's important to do so after something that happens to bury those feelings.
The mixed part comes into play when you as an older person who knows how to analyze movies and characters. The message of the movie can be confusing. This is purely a matter of perspective so I can only give mine and if someone disagrees then they are free too. Just don't say "it's stupid cause it's sad and I don't wanna watch sad things with my kid's". To which I say, here's a happy meal, your hamster ball and a wall with no paint. I'd let you watch the paint dry but we wouldn't wanna get too exciting or dare I say...... CREATIVE!
The inventions in this movie are an absolute pleasure to see come to life. And I don't mean literally either even though that's also fun. I mean to see a child think of these wonderful ideas and be encouraged by their parents to think of even greater more fun ways to look at them even if the kid thinks you as the smarter parent could probably come up with something better. It's how it should be since the child is taught that their ideas matter and they are important to express in only words they can say.
Overall without spoiling too much I will say you will enjoy this movie if you are looking for a character that is strong, creative and finds out why it's important to be that way.
If you aren't then that's ok. There are plenty of fine movies you can watch. Just make sure that they have heart and don't always play it safe. A Disney movie can be scary and that's good. A nickelodeon movie can be sad and that's ok. A warner bros movie can have crazy amounts of creativity. All movies can have inappropriate humor if you py attention to what they sneak in. Nothing is meant to be sacred and nothing is truly safe. Take a chance, have fun and explore. Your heart will thank you for it. -
rgkarim16 March 2019Fan of Roller coaster Tycoon, or Simulation coasters? Were you one of those people who had an imagination that could take you to anywhere you wanted to think of? Have you wanted to go to a place of wonder where girls didn't blow up to blueberries? Well tonight's movie attempts to bring all of this to you in a package that looks to people overwhelmingly cute. Robbie K back with his thought on yet another movie to hit the silver screen in hopes of not getting lost to the reruns of the theater. Let's get started!
Movie: Wonder Park (2019)
Writers: Josh Appelbaum (screenplay by), André Nemec(screenplay by) Stars: Sofia Mali, Jennifer Garner, Ken Hudson Campbell
LIKES:
Cute Voice Work Special Effects Animation Energy Jokes Imagination Message
Summary: Disney movies make it difficult to try to bring animated features out because of the not so big budget or army of animators/ideas. Nickelodeon is able to still work some charming magic into this piece though, managing once more to bring the cute factor into their film and get the feelings going. It's got some surprising emotional work, with voice acting and story coming together to sell the feelings lying deep in the fun, cute charm that the trailers show. Much like the opening scene of Up, Wonder Park has some surprisingly deep messages that will hopefully motivate the young and refresh the older generations on the importance of imagination and wonder. Sap fest aside though, the movie accomplishes the goal of still being fun, managing to inject the wonder of imagination in terms of visuals and adventures. Nickelodeon's team injects a lot of kid friendly energy into the mix, making an infectious, thrill seeking ride that is perfect for the intended audience. The smooth animation, with high paced speed keeps in time with the nature of the animals and imaginative girl, while the design manages to bring in the magic that theme parks and kids movies have. All the unlimited potential of a child's imagination is unleashed in this film and it is certain to bring you back into the world of pure imagination.
DISLIKES:
Predictable Too Simple Lacking Intense Suspense Short
Summary: As we have talked about, animation movies require a story to be very dynamic, fun, and have a sense of adventure that takes us out of our world. While Wonder Park does semi-accomplish this, it doesn't quite do it as well as some of the other bigger studios have done. For one thing the movie is predictable, all the symbolism, mystery, and potential twists are easily discernible and lacking the finesse and mind-blowing moments that the sister studio is famous for. In addition, despite all the fun that Wonder Park did in helping you relive your childhood, it was a little too simplistic in the adventure department, not quite having the drive or dive that Pixar and DreamWorks is able to concoct. This means for me that there was not too many suspenseful parts in the mix, most of the chases reduced to quick bouts of falling, or lost in another joke. All the dark challenges and impasses are very diluted avenues, that act as symbolic psyche components of humans rather than true antagonists. Yet the main thing that is semi disappointing, is how short the movie is. Clocking in at just around 80 minutes, this film certainly moves fast, but not so much in the good way as the content feels a little lacking to be honest. Oh well, it got me out a little early, but the length may not be the most bang for your buck in terms of the expensive movie ticket price.
The VERDICT:
Wonder park is certainly an important illustration about the important components of life, including the importance of maintaining your imagination and wonder. It makes great use of the kid friendly energy, yet has a few things for adults to latch onto, especially those touching, pull at your heart string moments. Yet despite all the fun I had in this movie, the film still feels like a Nickelodeon tv special that could have been left to the network. It needed some more adventure, it needed more suspense for me, and more importantly it needed more of that magic they talked about. Wonder Park certainly has the makings for a fun merchandising series, it just needs a little more finesse to finish the deal. Worth a trip to the theater? Hmmm kind of, but this one is probably waiting for streaming for most.
My scores are:
Animation/Adventure/Comedy: 7.5 Movie Overall: 6.5 -
thebohemianarrow16 March 2019I read other reviews and hesitated on wether or not to take the kids (boys, 9 and 5) I wish I wouldn't have wasted $42 on sad and boring. My kids went from sad to bored and back to sad, before ending with bored. I was crawling out of me seat waiting for it to just end. It was very heavy emotional content for kids and the rest of the boring movie didn't make up for that fact.
Awful. Don't go. Don't even rent. -
REVIEWER'S NOTE: I had originally intended to skip this film after all the controversy surrounding the director, but turns out he got fired from the production back in January and won't be receiving any of the film's Box Office. So I can watch this guilt free.
I was weirdly excited for Wonder Park when the trailer dropped last year. For as much as I love all things Horror, I have a soft spot for a good family movie and this one looked downright adorable. From the character designs to the cast to the sheer creative energy it looked to exude, I had somewhat high hopes for this film. When the film's brutally negative reviews came in (32% on Rotten Tomatoes), I began to get worried that all my hopes had been for naught. The bad news is that this is nowhere near the film I had been hoping for last year. The good news is that it's not actually that bad either.
I'm not going to argue that Wonder Park is a masterpiece. The biggest problem with the film is its pacing. The film moves far too fast, meaning that genuinely strong emotional beats that should hit a lot harder just don't have the weight that they should. The film definitely has some trouble balancing June's increasingly overbearing and emotionally exhausting home life and its effects on the Wonderland of her creation (Yeah, the park is called Wonderland even though the movie is called Wonder Park...I thought it was weird too) and the colorful characters that inhabit it. These plotlines almost feel like 2 completely different movies.
There's also a minor plot point about June going to Algebra Camp, and while it's short, that whole part of the film is painfully obnoxious. The camp jingle they sing is in no way charming or natural, but the film tries so far to force it down your throat like sickly sweet medicine that it nearly made me want to gag.
That being said, while Wonder Park isn't a great film, I'd argue there's enough here to call it a good one. Surprisingly enough with the backlash it's received, Wonder Park is filled with loads of charming characters, voice acted with care and enthusiasm. Sofia Mali captures the vulnerability and increasing angst of her June wonderfully while still giving her some refreshing spunk and an adorable upbeat tone. I hope her career goes far because she has serious potential as a leading lady. I confess that I haven't seen Ken Hudson Campbell in much, but he brings so much warmth and presence to his role as the chimpanzee Peanut. It was impossible for me not to smile when he finally started rising out of his emotional hole. John Oliver is always hilarious and he's no less so in his role as Steve the Porcupine. I'll admit, I laughed out loud a couple times at his deliveries. Mila Kunis brings a lot of strength and passion to her role as Greta the Warthog. It's a role that easily could have just been a throwaway, but Kunis really sells the character's love for her family and her strict, motherly nature.
The animation is drop dead gorgeous, fitting of a film based so heavily on themes of creativity and imagination. I'm tempted to say it looks borderline Pixar quality at moments and while the film's rough production cycle may have hurt the film's pacing and editing, the crisp and eye-popping visuals on display remain unharmed. Better still are the imaginative ways said animation is used, from the childlike brilliance of the rides of Wonderland to the simultaneously adorable-but-ominous Chimp-An-Zombies around every corner. The film very much feels like the product of a little girl's vibrant and boundless imagination and I mean that in the best way.
The thing that will stick with me most about Wonder Park is its message. I think far too many family films try to cover universal themes at the cost of having a real heart and soul to their message, but Wonder Park thankfully doesn't do that. I really appreciated how the film's thematic undertones of the imaginative droughts experienced by creative minds going through depression was very much focused towards right-brained kids. I think aspiring storytellers, artists and even reviewers need films like this that can speak specifically to them and, even as an adult, I still found its messages to be relatable, touching and, best of all, new. Depression is something that gets in a way of a lot of my creative pursuits as an adult and it is difficult to watch something that gave you so much joy become a chore that's easy to abandon and cast aside. While there are criticisms of the film I can understand, I don't think it's soulless at all as critics claim it to be and I do appreciate how the film reminds us to never forget the spark of inspiration that motivates our creative pursuits in the first place.
While Wonder Park is heavily flawed, it's still nowhere close to a bad film in my eyes, nor is it anywhere near the worst film I've seen this year. Its got lovable characters, a strong voice cast, excellent animation and a genuinely important message that really helps cater to an overlooked target audience. You don't have much to lose by checking it out. -
jeldred-8131117 March 2019Definatly not a pixar with the depth of the story, but not bad if you got little kids around5-10. I went in expecting a bad movie after reading the critics. Spent 30 min trying to get my kids to see how to train my dragon. But it wasnt as bad as i thought.
-
SomeGuyStudios13 May 2019Everyone who rates this movie a 10/10 only justified their opinion based on the fact that it has good themes. That doesn't make a good movie. The score was bad, the cinematography was bland, the editing was bad. The only good quality was animation but if you look at a movie like dragons 3 it shows how far animation has come. It has a huge budget so it should be better animated. We who rate this 1/10 are not haters this is a legitimately bad movie. Do not use the excuse that it is for kids and I can't be hard on it. By that logic cool cat is a good movie because it's for kids.
-
tabuno4 July 2019This fanciful animated movie that interlocks a child's imagination with the creation of an imaginary but perhaps actually real wonderful, almost magical park seems to lose a bit in its lack a compelling engaging nature of animation as depicted on the screen. Unlike Toy Story 4 which offers up an even more sharp, detailed rendition of life like characters having much more distinct line between animated real life characters and the imaginary animated characters in Wonder Park seem to distance the audience from becoming more directly involved in the movie. In Last Action Hero (1993) a fun superhero action movie has a real boy enters into the world of a fictional movie world and remains more compelling because of its reality-tinged depiction. In contrast, George Clooney's more vivid and compelling live action sci fi Tomorrowland (2015) immerses its audience in the much more real, yet intertwining divergent future reality. There is a lot of emphasis on action to propel this movie forward with less of a direct threat to the entire planet earth than Tomorrowland. Even so, the dazzling animated Inside Out (2015) while not involving a dramatic threat to the entire world still retains its intensity of emotional connection to its characters by its very nature sustained in the movie while also introducing a continuing series of action scenes throughout the movie. My Girlfriend's Boyfriend (2010) is an amazing example of a funny romantic comedy based on the interaction of writing and how it can become real. Even Christopher Robin (2018) has a fanciful charm where storybook characters can interact well with real people on the screen that involves deeper human emotions and interesting storylines without the continued use of action. Or take the imaginative Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013) or Welcome to Warwen (2018). where adult men can also have a fascinating life both real and unreal on the big screen. Perhaps the definitive live action fantasy movie might be Robin Wright's performance as herself in an amazing fusion of live action and animation in Congress (2013 which may never be replicated or approached again in its depiction of its subject matter. Overall Wonder Park is fun, entertaining, and theme park derived, with its heart and playfulness in the right places. It just could have been better designed and portrayed.
-
I took my grandson to this thinking it would be a fun and lively movie but was I sure wrong. Never did anyone in the theater even laugh once.. Waste of time and money. I would not even recommend renting it to watch at home.
-
It's got the kind of sadness from the movie 'Up' and the feelings of 'Inside Out' while also keeping a moral background of imaginations alive in kids with good animation. It isn't that great for adults but it's definitely a worth watch for kids below 10 to make them realize that imagination is vital for their happiness. It's simply sweet and beautiful. I have no clue why it's got such bad ratings.
-
silentbobbeartank6 January 2020I liked that the movie will inspire creativity and the importance of math. The story itself was just weak. Motivations were difficult to follow. Although it's good to have another movie addressing grief in children, I found it sloppy and not really practical. All in all, it held my daughter's attention for at least 45 minutes.
-
This movie is not like other animations. It is beautiful, colorful and cheery. It also has some interesting existential and intelligent parts that is applicable to both kids and growing adults. The ideals of the movie defines how animation movies should be rather than just having slapstick comedies stuffed on your face. There was still some places where the movie could have become legendary.
-
luv_abill_libra19 March 2020I asked myself why has this cute film that left my daughter dancing and and twirling scored so low? The reason is because those who reviewed the film has lost their light so that misses the pint of the film altogether. Good watch. Tears were shedded.
-
jfenn5305823 March 2019This isn't about an imaginative little girl's pretend amusement park with cute talking animals that are the true stars; it is about a little girl working through her fear and grief of her mother's life-threatening illness while the mom leaves her husband and daughter to seek specialized treatment in another city. For anyone touched by the threat of a terminal illness it comes like a slap in the face because ads make it appear to be a light and airy fun filled fantasy. There is no effort to cause her animal friends to connect with the audience; they are utterly forgettable. Nothing memorable here, and potentially hurtful for those affected past or present with life-threatening illness.
-
Snootz16 September 2020I'm not sure exactly what point this film was trying to make, but if one throws expectations to the wind and is ready for a constant jump-the-shark animated action film, this is a fun ride. Kids will love it. Adults might appreciate the imagination. The closeness of the family is refreshing in today's world of dominant family-conflict films. It may not be the best animation ever, but it's well worth the watch.
-
DPeeters10 June 2019I went to see this movie with my three kids (5,7,10) and they liked it, so I can't say it wasn't entertaining for its target audience. From an adult critical point of view I did have to roll my eyes a few too many times and reading the reviews, I don't agree with what many people here write.
The movie starts with a family that has extreme unrealistic bliss and love and where the daughter, June, is over-adored in an unhealthy way. She practically destroys her neighbourhood and her parent end up rewarding her with all she ever desired. There are just too many forced emotions here.
The typical 'one of the parents gets sick' story line (which is part of almost every kids story) comes over forced and easily resolved by the mother leaving to get it fixed. This gives an unrealistic and easy solution to the father and daughter not having to deal with the issue in any personal way.
Then the whole maths camp history and nobody makes an issue of this. Teaching kids that if they don't feel like it, they can just abandon everything and disappoint everyone around them.
Finally, the wonder park story itself is fine apart from the creepy monkey zombies that will probably give the target audience (which I think is 5 to 8 year olds) nightmares. June will definitely grow up to be a leader/influencer since she has all the kids in her neighbourhood blindly follow her in whatever project she thinks up. This includes her parent the must of forked over all their savings to pay for her 'dreams'.