Review of Isle of Dogs (2018) by Natalie M — 17 Jul 2018

A delightful adventure with dogs!

Wes Anderson has directed another sweet, yet mature movie. Isle of Dogs is not as whimsical as Fantastic Mr. Fox, but it surpasses expectations with a quirky stories filled with wild characters. The stop motion animation and clay-mation is immaculate. Anderson refined his animation style from Fantastic Mr. Fox, while sacrificing compelling storytelling. The plot of Isle of Dogs unfortunately meanders its way to the finale. Audiences will have fun the whole way through, even with the slower pace. But I think most viewers will find Isle of Dogs confusing or alienating in its odd, yet charming approach.

The voice acting is excellent overall. I am particularly pleased by the vocal work of Edward Norton, Bryan Cranston, Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum, and Harvey Keitel. Greta Gerwig and Scarlett Johansson are alright at their line delivery, but they feel a little forced. Yoko Ono surprises with a few choice lines. The Japanese voice actors all deliver believable dialogue even though I cannot understand them. The choice to not use subtitles is off putting as well as funny at times with the interpreters throughout. Wes Anderson's all star cast will impress most viewers with their perfect delivery, but I suspect others will be turned off by how recognizable all the voice actors are sonically. I liked them though!

One thing Wes Anderson continues to excel at is his symmetrical framing. Every shot finds itself in the ideal visual setup. Figures and backgrounds are aligned for optimal visual equality. Isle of Dogs is certainly visually appealing. All the colors, movement, and juxtaposition are meticulously detailed and lifelike. Isle of Dogs is peak precision in animation.

Notably, I think audiences should disregard the various criticisms of Isle of Dogs as racist, insensitive, or cultural appropriation. I keep waiting for something offensive to happen while watching Isle of Dogs and only found strange delights and fun times. Any outrage at Isle of Dogs is grossly misplaced. This is a fun little animated adventure for adults to enjoy. It has heavy political undertones, but it is not racist. Isle of Dogs is good fun in good taste in my opinion.

Lastly, I'd like to mention the traditional Japanese score from master composer Alexandre Desplat. His use of drums are massive in sound. As are Desplat's reaching for cultural authenticity with his utilization of traditional Japanese instruments. The only other music is indie rock songs scattered here and there during the dog bound journey.

In short, I think most people that undertake the joyous ride that is Isle of Dogs will come out entertained, but not mind blown. Wes Anderson continues his hot streak of excellent quality films. See Isle of Dogs for some levity this tiresome year.