Review of My Little Pony: The Movie (2017) by Del C — 05 Oct 2017

Definitely worth seeing.

The scope of the movie properly matched its big-screen venue, and it was delightful to see the ponies go on a grand adventure like the current generation's creator originally envisioned. The animation uses a different engine from the show, and that lends itself to a much more late-last-century Disney feel in addition to allowing them to do much more with three dimensions, again befitting of the big screen.

Without getting into spoiling details, there was a moment when Twilight stepped far outside the what we've come to expect of her character, and it's a bit jarring. While (superficially) that seems like bad writing, honestly, I think it properly captures how the weight of stakes and stress can make a person suddenly deviate from their moral fiber.

My only real qualm with the story was the character Tempest. Her design is so over-the-top "edgy" that she looks more like an anti-socialite's cry for attention than a proper villain; to coin a phrase: she looks like "Little Timmy's first OC." Her backstory and appearance could have easily been modified to give her similar motives and end goal without making her look ridiculous. Her voice actor, however, was her saving grace, and holds Tempest aloft when she would otherwise be a total flop.

Great mix of humor and tension, fun songs, and solid nuanced character interaction. This movie is worth seeing in the theaters.