Review of Dinosaur (2000) by Jon T — 30 Mar 2014

At the tail of the Disney Renaissance (beginning with 1989's THE LITTLE MERMAID and concluding with 1999's TARZAN), the Mouse House attempted its first fully computer animated feature, a prehistoric epic predictably titled DINOSAUR.

On a technical level, it is indeed a breathtaking accomplishment, the dinosaurs looking staggeringly realistic and blending impeccably with the real-life surroundings. There are also some bravura pieces of special effects, particularly a meteorite storm that decimates an entire island.

James Newton Howard's African-flavored score is also a plus. Ultimately, however, DINOSAUR fails to impress in the two crucial areas that matter more than dazzling visuals: storyline and characters.

The plot is basically a retreading of THE LAND BEFORE TIME and Disney's own "Rite of Spring" sequence from FANTASIA, populated with an indistinguishably dull, uninteresting cast of lemurs, dinosaurs, and bloodthirsty carnotaurs.

This story of a young upstart who becomes the leader of a migrating herd has been done many times before -- and far more compellingly. One can sense that the formulaic cookie-cutter approach for Disney features was beginning to run dry.

That also applies to the character archetypes -- the selfless hero, goofy sidekicks, stubborn figure of authority, and loathsome villain. If you're going to make a movie about dinosaurs, have an interesting script AND compelling characters.

DINOSAUR could have been something truly spectacular -- SHOULD have been something truly spectacular -- but sadly, it's only a disappointingly average failure. Great visuals and music alone does not a good movie make.