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PIXAR is, in many ways, similar to Disney's other successful property, Marvel Studios. In that, they both don't seem capable of releasing terrible or lackluster films. However, they are still susceptible to the occasional release of entertaining movies lacking the appropriate amount of that secret special sauce that distinguishes them from other creators.
For example: compare PIXAR's magnum opus, Ratatouille, to Marvel Studios' surprise hit, Guardians of the Galaxy. Both films are incredibly creative with narrative and thematic elements that no one would otherwise play with. One film has a Rat who loves to cook, and the other has a wise-cracking Racoon wielding a machine gun. Both films take massive risks, treat their material with respect and maturity, and triumphantly cross the finish line. In contrast, compare PIXAR's less-than-stellar series, Cars, to Marvel Studios' underwhelming work, Avengers: Age of Ultron. Both films are still entertaining in some areas and retain pieces of their signature charm, but neither film is totally memorable nor as emotionally resonating as their previous works. One film is a dramatic departure from the usual geek-culture inspiration, and the other is more interested in building up future events instead of telling a compelling story.
Today's subject, PIXAR's Luca, is arguably most similar to Marvel Studios' Spider-Man: Homecoming. Both films feature striking visuals, lovable characters and follow a classic coming-of-age story. However, what prevents them from being on par with their greater successes is their overreliance on fast-paced comedy, underutilized supporting characters, and narrative & character beats that you can see coming from a mile away. And yet, both films retain a kind of charm and playfulness that only their respective studios can deliver. Even if you feel as though you've seen this story many times before, it still feels fresh because of the love and enthusiasm that went into telling it.
The story follows a young sea monster named Luca (Jacob Tremblay), who lives with a loving family under the water near a small Italian fishing village. Despite having a decent stable life, Luca occasionally dreams of visiting the surface and exploring the human world. One day, while tending to his family's farm, he meets a fellow sea monster named Alberto (Jack Dylan Grazer), who has been living on the surface for a while. It turns out that sea monsters can change into human form when out of water and dry. Despite his reservations, Luca decides to venture with Alberto to his home to discover a mutual interest in Italy's signature vehicle, the Vespa. The two of them decide to seek one of these awesome scooters for a journey across the world. To get one, they make friends with a local girl named Giulia (Emma Berman), who plans to participate in a triathlon race with prize money. Together, they just might help each other achieve their dreams. The only question being how long can Luca and Alberto keep their true selves a secret?
Visually, the film is absolutely gorgeous! In addition to the high-quality animation you would expect from a PIXAR film, it succeeds in bringing a charming Italian coastal village to life with bright & vibrant colors, familiar sights and sounds, and more than a few reminders of how superior Gelatto is over any other ice cream. Also, Pasta!
The characters are likable and succeed in being literal fish-out-of-water without coming off as overly annoying. Most of the time, these kinds of stories where a character is experiencing a whole new world for the very first time can be repetitive and annoying with how often they tend to misunderstand social norms and cultural aspects. While this film still has some of these moments, it never dwells on them for longer than necessary.
Unfortunately, as much as it pains me to admit, it's not one of PIXAR's best films. As I alluded to earlier, this story has been told many times before. Most of the character arcs, plot twists, and story beats are predictable and don't leave as much of an impact as they otherwise could have. Also, much like most of the Marvel Films (Spider-Man: Homecoming notwithstanding), the villain is unnecessary and too one-dimensional. While even some of PIXAR's greatest films still had one-dimensional villains, such as Sid from Toy Story, at least they still served a purpose in the narrative. Unlike the villain in Luca, who doesn't have many purposes outside of making the heroes look better by comparison. Which, in this particular case, is highly unnecessary. At least in my opinion.
While Luca isn't on par with some of PIXAR's greatest achievements, it is still a worthy feather in their cap. It's a pleasant and heartwarming distraction that reminds us of what we can all look forward to when we're able to safely travel again. In that respect, I appreciate this film a little bit more than I otherwise might have. Also, it loves Pasta as much as I do. How can I not be just a little bit biased?
Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading.
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