Review of The Good Dinosaur (2015) by Johnny T — 11 Feb 2016

Simple but effective, The Good Dinosaur doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it's still damn fine family entertainment. Slow to get going, it comes into its own when its heroes buddy up. By turns breath-taking to look at and emotionally engaging, the film has to rate as a triumph for the way in which it can appeal to audiences of every age while perhaps relying more on classic storytelling elements. The movie builds slowly and treads in some formulaic territory, but it is played out with such a high degree of competency it still manages to feel fresh, vibrant and satisfying. The film's most impressive feature is its awesomely beautiful rendering of the natural world - from majestic forests and raging flood waters to the glittering phosphorescence of a field of fireflies. The animation is some of the best Pixar has ever produced. Be it land, water or mountain, every scene pops. And the way the film depicts movement, particularly facial expressions, is breathtaking. This is a wholesome, heart string-tugging, tear-jerking story of perseverance. It's not as full as some of Pixar's others, but it's a really, really good movie. The Good Dinosaur delivers thrillingly beautiful animation in service of a worthy story that, even if it doesn't quite live up to the lofty standards set by Pixar, still adds up to charming, family-friendly entertainment.

VERDICT: "High-Quality Stuff" - [Positive Reaction] This is a rating to a movie I view as very entertaining and well made, and definitely worth paying the full price at a theatre to see or own on DVD. It is not perfect, but it is definitely excellent. (Films that are rated 3.5 or 4 stars).