Movie Review: ‘The Wild Robot’

Opening in theaters on September 27th, ‘The Wild Robot’ is the latest release from ‘Shrek’ and ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ studio DreamWorks Animation and director Chris Sanders, who here adapts Peter Brown’s children’s book to winning effect.

The tale of a robot whose delivery container crash lands on an isolated island populated entirely by animals, it embraces themes such as figuring out who you really need to be beyond who you’re told to be, and kindness as a survival method.

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Does ‘The Wild Robot’ fly?

DreamWorks has, like every other animation studio of late, been a little hit-and-miss when it comes to its output. Recognizable properties such as the latest ‘Kung Fu Panda’ offering and ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ (the latter showing a healthy willingness to experiment, particularly with animation style) have been successes while branching out into newer territory such as ‘Ruby Gillman: Teenage Kraken’ have seen less of a profitable return (it didn’t help that the latter was more blandly generic than even the latest ‘Shrek’ spin-off).

So it’s good to see that the studio is still willing to take risks, including this adaptation of Peter Brown’s book. It’s a relatively simply narrative, but it does have a lot of heart. A few issues here and there aside, ‘The Wild Robot’ is a welcome, stylish addition to the company’s roster, though seems less likely to generate multiple spin-offs (but don’t count out the franchise-happy team out entirely, particularly if this scores at the box office).

Script and Direction

Chris Sanders is a reliable, experienced filmmaker for both DreamWorks and, before that, Disney, and here his talent for finding relatable stories in offbeat places remains fully intact. After all, this is the man who (along with Dean DeBlois, who would run the franchise) helped turn ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ into a sensation.

‘The Wild Robot’ also feels of a piece with one of Sanders’ earlier movies –– ‘Lilo & Stitch’ with its combination of family themes and physical comedy. It’s not as anarchic as that film, but there are plenty of entertaining characters, and while the writer/director’s script sometimes falls into schmaltziness, there’s enough of an edge that it is largely undercut by something funny.

There are few surprises here in the storytelling about a robot who crash lands on an island, learns to interact with the local wildlife and ends up taking care of an orphaned runt of a gosling with the help of a fox. Bonding and learning new ways to live are at the forefront, along with overcoming prejudice.

Yet it’s in the visuals that the movie itself really soars. DreamWorks has, in the post-Spider-Verse world, shown a willingness to try new styles as first glimpsed with ‘The Bad Guys’ and with ‘Wild Robot,’ that is taken to the next level, its painterly beauty a thing to behold. It really does look like a beautiful children’s tome brought into animated existence and there are some jaw-dropping shots to be found here, not to mention some appealing character designs.

Performances

Built around a superb central voice role from Lupita Nyong’o, the film has a few performances worth noting…

Lupita Nyong’o as Roz/Rummage

Playing the robot of the title, Nyong’o strikes several sympathetic tones here, working with Sanders to modulate her performance to perfection. When we first meet Roz, she’s the enthusiastic corporate spokes-bot, eager to engage in any task and not realizing how much she’s freaking out the fauna surrounding her. It’s a role ripe with comic potential and Nyong’o fully embraces it. As Roz learns to better understand the animals and unexpectedly bonds with Brightbill the gosling, the story changes with her, maintaining its comic touch but also developing more authentic heart.

The actor also has a smaller, supporting part as Rummage, a fellow robot that Roz builds from the parts of the other machines that crashed with her, though that’s mostly a channel for exposition.

Kit Connor as Brightbill

Brightbill the gosling forms the second pillar of the emotional triangle at the heart of the film, and he’s filled with goofy enthusiasm. Connor brings a freshness and real emotion to the role, able to handle the requirements of the young bird’s arc.

Pedro Pascal as Fink

The crafty, yet ultimately good-hearted fox that Roz meets when he tries to steal Brightbill (while still in his egg) is another great role for an actor, one that Pascal brings to life with spirit and a cheekiness that works for the animal.

Catherine O’Hara as Pinktail

The possum parent constantly trying to teach her kids the value of a fake death is a comic highlight of the film who also has weary parenting advice for Roz once the robot starts trying to care for Brightbill. O’Hara, an expert at getting laughs, also infuses the part with some healthy heart and kudos also to the various young actors who play her mischievous kids.

Supporting cast

There are various other standout voices to be found here –– Mark Hamill plays a grumpy bear who ultimately becomes more than that, Matt Berry’s imperious tones just sound right coming from a beaver who is obsessed with chewing down a giant tree, while Bill Nighy is great in a smaller role as Longneck, the wise older goose who takes Brightbill under his wing when it’s time to migrate. And finally, shout outs to Stephanie Hsu (as Vontra, the cheerily evil retrieval operative droid who arrives to take Roz back to her makers) and Ving Rhames as hawk Thunderbolt, who teaches Brightbill how to fly.

Final Thoughts

‘The Wild Robot’ may not completely push the boundaries of what an animated movie should be (a lot of the “believe in yourself and become more than you thought you could” messaging will be awfully familiar, particularly to parents or guardians who have brought kids to many of these sorts of films), but it has enough genuine heart and invention to succeed.

And visually, it’s absolutely stunning in places, letting the imagery do the work but never skimping on the storytelling.

‘The Wild Robot’ receives 7 out of 10 stars.

What’s the plot of ‘The Wild Robot’?

‘The Wild Robot’ follows the journey of a robot –– Rozzum unit 7134, “Roz” (Lupita Nyong’o) for short — that is shipwrecked on an uninhabited island and must learn to adapt to the harsh surroundings, gradually building relationships with the animals on the island and becoming the adoptive parent of an orphaned gosling.

Who is in the cast of ‘The Wild Robot?

• Lupita Nyong’o as ROZZUM unit 7134 (“Roz”)
• Pedro Pascal as Fink
• Catherine O’Hara as Pinktail
• Bill Nighy as Longneck
• Stephanie Hsu as Vontra
• Mark Hamill as Thorn
• Matt Berry as Paddler
• Ving Rhames as Thunderbolt

(from left) Brightbill (Kit Connor) and Roz (Lupita N’yongo) in DreamWorks Animation’s ‘The Wild Robot’, directed by Chris Sanders. © 2024 DreamWorks Animation. All Rights Reserved.

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