Review of Isle of Dogs (2018) by Legitsalt — 24 May 2018

This was the most fun that I have had in the theatre for a while, and while, and yes, while fun doesn't imply quality, it certainly came with it here. The stop-motion animation only added to my enjoyment, giving the movie a hands-on and loving feel which demonstrates the amount of work, effort and time that was put into the film.

The story was a fun and compelling narrative, and, despite being moderately similar to other works of Wes Anderson, I still thoroughly enjoyed the film. Even though the animation was a little bit stilted, as was the dialogue, I felt it had a charm to it and fit the style of the movie.

The only voice actor that I felt could have done a better job was Scarlett Johansson, although I feel part of this was the somewhat diminutive manner in which women, and especially her character, were written into the film.

Additionally, there were several moments wherein I felt not as if I were watching animated dogs but watching people voice animated dogs, something especially notable with Jeff Goldblum's performance. Despite this minor qualm, I still felt pleasantly satisfied with the voice acting in the movie, especially the ferocious delivery by the Japanese leader.

The story is, as a whole very endearing and charming, with tones of redemption being very present. Note, this movie is not entirely a kid's movie, so one shouldn't approach it with solely such a mindset.

Although it is PG in Canada and the UK, it is rated PG-13 in the states, which I feel adequately represents the film's nature. Wes Anderson's signature style is one of my favourites, with its wide, symmetrical shots, and its beautiful set pieces.

These are things that aren't lost in this stop-motion film. I would recommend this film to anyone seeking either a fun theatre experience, a good art film, or a cute story about a boy trying to find his genetically-enhanced super bodyguard-dog.