Review of Dumbo (2019) by Davrosdaleks1 — 30 Mar 2019

This remake of the classic Disney animated is very entertaining and fantastic in parts, but like most recent Tim Burton movies suffers from plotting and pacing issues.

Taking place post-World War I, the remake focuses on the old timey world of the circus, both travelling and a big Coney Island-type. This is one of the strongest parts of the film. Burton has used circuses or circus imagery a few times before and he expresses a real love for the business.

Given that circuses are currently phasing out elephants due to health and safety concerns for the animals, you may be worried whether a movie about circus elephants could be a little tone depth. They do address this and animal activists should be pleased with the ending, although I think the whole subject could've been addressed a little more clearly.

Whereas the original film focused on the animal characters, this one focuses on human circus folk, which given that this is live action, makes sense. Also, the original was a little over an hour, so you have to expect the creators to look toward more content to work with. Fans of the first one may be disappointed that there are no talking animals and that Dumbo's pal Timothy J. Mouse basically has a cameo. However, I give Burton and screenwriter Ehren Krueger credit for trying to give the audience something a little different. In regard to Timothy, in the original book Dumbo's friend was a robin, so this isn't like the first time the Dumbo story has been altered.

The entire troupe of the Medici Bros. Circus, a varied cast, serve as a decent emotional backbone as they struggle with waning profits and unite in support for their fondness of Dumbo. (Though the plot isn't helped by the fact that in 2019, the creators still thought it would be funny to see the circus' overweight member frequently eating.) Danny Devito is the MVP of the film as the comical struggling circus owner. Colin Farrell also makes a good, strong lead as a one-armed veteran and widower returning from war to raise his kids.

Visually, this is one of Burton's best efforts, which is saying something. Seriously, there are moments of pure artistry here. The large circus is such a fully realized setting of fantastic imagery. Though the director is known for a particular, and by now predictable, style, he manages to make the movie still look different from his other films. I even heard Burton's costume designer made a conscious effort to avoid striped clothing, which his movies are known for. The costumes evoke a fantasy old world feel. The film has an interesting color scheme that emphasizes red and blue. The general design is in fact a little more lighthearted than other Burton movies.

Still, Burton is generally a stronger visual guy than a story guy and it shows here. There are sections where pacing and plotting are a little iffy. Exhibition moments can be a little dull. The sinister machinations of circus entrepreneur V.A. Vandevere (played by Michael Keaton) are very predictable, not to mention too cartoonish for their own good, yet the movie takes too long to set them up. The subplot of Farrell's character trying to reconnect with and raise his two children and the entire family's dealing with their grief doesn't quite take off from the runway as not enough appropriate emotional weight is given.

The negative reaction to Dumbo's large ears by most people before he starts flying is a little too over-the-top. I mean oddities at a circus aren't uncommon. You go there to see stuff like that. Why is a large eared elephant something to get worked up about?

The plotting concerns mostly lie within the first two thirds of the movie. The action-packed finale really delivers the goods, and there is an emotionally satisfying wrap-up.

Nico Parker who plays Farrell's daughter gives a rather lackluster performance. Although, I don't know if this is the actress' fault or the direction as the character is supposed to be a brainy logical type and Nico seems to do okay with the rare moments where she has emotional beats. Keaton does a good job with his character's physical movements, but he is hampered with using a weird sort of gravelly voice. Alan Arkin has a small part as a banker whose dialogue feels like he's from a different movie entirely. The computer animation for the elephants never quite works. You can tell they're never really there. There is something not quite right about Dumbo's big blue eyes, either.

In general I was entertained, but I found some parts slow. I think this is something people should see but maybe as a background film. Children will probably be more forgiven of this and be entranced by Dumbo and the visuals.