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Luca -
This could be my favorite Pixar movie since Inside Out and maybe even Toy Story 3. My favorite qualities of the studio's movies are their optimism, lack of cynicism and how charming they can be, and all of these apply here. I was really taken with the genuine-seeming friendship of the sea monster and title character, fellow monster Alberto and Giulia, who is seemingly their only ally on the sea monster-loathing Italian island town of Portorosso. Pixar's success owes a lot to its Ghibli influences, and while they are on full display here, they are hardly direct lifts. Besides Ponyo, obviously, there are shades of Kiki's Delivery Service in a beautiful city providing a formative experience. Speaking of the town, with its Mediterranean color palate and look and feel reminiscent of Positano, it's one of the studio's best-looking movies and that's saying something. It's also a very intense movie in many ways, whether it's in Luca and Alberto's attempts at hiding their identities or in the big race in the final act, not to mention a very funny one. Just wait until you see the goat fish. The movie has its fair share of familiar tropes from how the three kids' friendship is tested to how much of a manic pixie dream girl Giulia is - she even has red hair - but I can't think of what the movie could have done better, the movie still manages to surprise anyway, and sometimes, it's best to stick with what works. While the movie doesn't explore the human experience like Inside Out does or existence like Soul does, its low stakes and quaintness are hardly reasons not to recommend it and it's not like themes such as friendship and finding one's own way are less important. Oh, and the runtime is a little deceptive: the movie is actually less than 90 minutes, with the remaining 15-20 taken up by end credits (which you should sit through, hint hint).
This could be my favorite Pixar movie since Inside Out and maybe even Toy Story 3. My favorite qualities of the studio's movies are their optimism, lack of cynicism and how charming they can be, and all of these apply here. I was really taken with the genuine-seeming friendship of the sea monster and title character, fellow monster Alberto and Giulia, who is seemingly their only ally on the sea monster-loathing Italian island town of Portorosso. Pixar's success owes a lot to its Ghibli influences, and while they are on full display here, they are hardly direct lifts. Besides Ponyo, obviously, there are shades of Kiki's Delivery Service in a beautiful city providing a formative experience. Speaking of the town, with its Mediterranean color palate and look and feel reminiscent of Positano, it's one of the studio's best-looking movies and that's saying something. It's also a very intense movie in many ways, whether it's in Luca and Alberto's attempts at hiding their identities or in the big race in the final act, not to mention a very funny one. Just wait until you see the goat fish. The movie has its fair share of familiar tropes from how the three kids' friendship is tested to how much of a manic pixie dream girl Giulia is - she even has red hair - but I can't think of what the movie could have done better, the movie still manages to surprise anyway, and sometimes, it's best to stick with what works. While the movie doesn't explore the human experience like Inside Out does or existence like Soul does, its low stakes and quaintness are hardly reasons not to recommend it and it's not like themes such as friendship and finding one's own way are less important. Oh, and the runtime is a little deceptive: the movie is actually less than 90 minutes, with the remaining 15-20 taken up by end credits (which you should sit through, hint hint).