My Movie Review on Dumbo (2019)
Salutations, my friends.
This is your friendly film, TV show, and episode reporter here with another review.
Today, following my previous analysis, I'm gonna give you guys my take of Tim Burton's "Dumbo".
Here's the summary of this tale:
At the end of World War I, former circus performer Holt Farrier returns to the Medici Brothers' Circus to find that it's in a financial crisis, and that his wife had died while he was gone, leaving him to be the widowed father of his two children, Milly and Joe. Unable to go back to his job as equestrian performer due to his horses being sold while he was away, ringmaster Max Medici gives Holt the position of elephant handler.
Not long after that, though, one of the elephants gives birth to a baby. But, the unusual thing about the baby...is that his ears are huge! And as if that isn't enough, the baby can use his ears to fly!
What's in store for this baby elephant, later named Dumbo, and the Farrier family? Especially when this new development catches the attention of an amusement park owner named V.A. Vandevere?
Well, the best way to know is to find out.
Having been aware of this movie's mixed to negative reception for some time, I'd like to start this review off by saying this:
WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TO?! WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE DO CRITIQUES ON MOVIES NOWADAYS BESIDES ME?!
I mean, seriously. I literally don't get why this movie got the reception it received or didn't do well at the box office. This movie was awesome! At least, in my opinion.
For instance, the direction by Tim Burton, and the screenplay by Ehren Kruger, were amazing! Creating a version that had human characters in a larger capacity and role compared to the animated version was an ingenious idea, because the move helped Burton and Kruger get creative and expand on their own take. Plus, the two of them not only created a narrative that was entirely their own, but they captured the spirit that made the animated version special, and they incorporated a genuine package of compelling humor, heart, and emotion. There were also many moments that were nostalgic in many ways, but Burton and Kruger included them in a way that was amusing and didn't feel out of place.
The special effects used in the movie were wonderful, if I may add. I mean, yes, they may not have been at the groundbreaking kind of level as Jon Favreau's "The Jungle Book", but they were still nicely done. The elephants that were featured in the movie had an undeniable sense of life and depth that infused the realism required, especially Dumbo. Likewise, the recreated Pink Elephant moment was enjoyable to watch, because it was amazing how realistic the bubbles appeared to be after transforming from an ordinary round look to elephants that were actually dancing.
The music by Danny Elfman was magnificent as well. As with his work in Burton's "Alice in Wonderland", I loved how Elfman's music captured a resonance that made the film something soul-filled, and his recreations of the melodies of the animated version's songs were not only nostalgic in the best way but cinematically emotional.
Finally, the performances of the cast, casting, characters, and character development were incredible. The performers looked like they were having the time of their life being part of this feature, giving their characters brilliant personality, as well as realistic emotion and depth. Colin Farrell, Eva Green, Danny DeVito, Michael Keaton, Nico Parker, and Finley Hobbins, with their portrayals of Holt Farrier, Colette Marchant, Max Medici, V.A. Vandevere, Milly Farrier, and Joe Farrier were the ones that won me over the most. The character development in articulation shined brightly throughout the movie, because even minor characters weren't without growth.
In conclusion, Tim Burton's "Dumbo" is a movie that's unusually and criminally underrated. Out of all the remakes made by Burton that I previously analyzed, as well as of the four live-action remakes released in 2019, this movie is what I believe to be the best of them. It deserves so much more than what it already received.
So, I rate Tim Burton's "Dumbo" a solid five out of five stars.
