TIFF: Co-director Chris Sanders of “Lilo & Stitch” and “How to Train Your Dragon” transforms Peter Brown’s endearing and sage best-selling book into a hit movie.
A stylish robot has crash-landed somewhere on a far-off island, a lush little patch of wilderness teeming with all of North America’s greatest hits species (bears, raccoons, skunks, foxes, geese, all the familiar stars). With a winning voice provided by Lupita Nyong’o, she goes by the moniker ROZZUM unit 7134 and is a true aspirant. Like all ROZZUM units, she is meant to be a servant who will “always complete its task, just ask.” Think of her as the love child between The Iron Giant and Wall-E. Unfortunately, it’s a big ask to locate a human master who can truly teach a technological marvel like ROZZUM unit 7134 what to do when it abruptly arrives on an empty island.
This is the beginning of Chris Sanders’ exquisitely portrayed “The Wild Robot,” which he himself adapted from Peter Brown’s best-selling book of the same name (spoiler alert: the books are a trilogy, and let’s hope we get more films to match them). The film is lovely in both visual and tone. The universe of “The Wild Robot,” which is painted in a beautiful 2D style, is immediately captivating, even though it takes some time for the tenacious Roz—as she will eventually come to be known—to become used to her surroundings. Roz is not exactly welcomed by the animals, which is a precursor to the film’s occasionally darker parts (this is, after all, an apparently kid-friendly comedy that includes an outstanding early joke about the murder of a newborn possum).
Being composed of more than just flesh and blood certainly makes patience easier for Roz, though, because without it she is nothing. So she settles down in the middle of her makeshift new woodland home and begins to learn the languages and ways of life of every living thing in the area. She should definitely activate the censor on her head so that Universal Dynamics, the obviously evil company, can take her down, but she also has a natural curiosity about the world and there is so much for her to learn. Even when she has finished booting up, they still call her a “monster” and ignore her, even if Pigtail, the possum with the voice of Catherine O’Hara, starts to grow fond of her.
and Pedro Pascal’s masterful portrayal of the cunning fox Fink suggests that this other outsider is of interest.
However, a small, abandoned gosling she will call Brightbill (voiced by Kit Connor) who takes a shine to Roz from the moment of his birth is going to adopt her. Roz gradually gives in to a rising sensation of, what is it, love? She feels both compelled and afraid. fondness? relationship? to raise the little guy, with Fink lending a big helping hand. Initially, she is happy to have a real assignment: a three-part instruction to prepare Brightbill for life as a goose. To be ready for the fall migration, she needs to teach him how to fly, feed, and swim.
He will undoubtedly educate her how to love and even how to be a human. Even if it seems corny and repetitive, Sanders’ very beautiful film brings the timeless truths that come with Roz’s (as well as Brightbill, Fink, and the rest of the forest crew) transformation to life. The three of them develop strong bonds as they work toward their goals, which translates into moving, colorful storytelling that is sure to make the audience laugh and cry.
Although Sanders’ writing starts to feel a little choppy in the middle—after we finish teaching Brightbill those three crucial lessons, what the heck will happen?— In the end, it permits the movie and its numerous stars to go into some unanticipated directions. The end product is all the positive, optimistic things we want to hear about movies geared for our younger viewers: it’s uplifting, real, a touch depressing, and tremendously inspirational with a big, old message about the strength of community and pulling together in the face of extreme hardship. Its charming, nostalgic appearance only heightens its allure; it’s a heartwarming little gem of a movie that pushes the boundaries of what’s possible. Too soon to make a request for
Rating: B+
At the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, “The Wild Robot” made its debut. It will be released on Friday, September 27 by Universal Pictures.