The Wild Robot (DreamWorks/Chris Sanders) (2024) (1 Viewer)

[Jake Lipson]

This is the new film from Chris Sanders. He is the co-director of Lilo & Stitch and the first installments of How to Train Your Dragon and The Croods. DreamWorks Animation as a studio can be highly inconsistent in terms of their output. They've made stuff I love and stuff I can't stand. But Sanders hasn't made a film I haven't at least liked. So I am looking forward to this. I think the trailer looks great.

 

[Jake Lipson]

DreamWorks Previews ‘The Wild Robot’ Unfinished Footage: ‘A Monet Painting in a Miyazaki Forest’

Dreamworks Animation previewed unfinished footage of 'The Wild Robot' at CinemaCon.

variety.com

 

[Jake Lipson]

This has been moved back to September 27. I updated the release date information in the first post accordingly.

DreamWorks Animation’s ‘The Wild Robot’ Will Go One Week Later In The Fall

'The Wild Robot': DreamWorks Animation Movie To Open on Sept. 27

deadline.com

 

[Tino]

This looks terrific.

 

[Alex...]

 

[Jake Lipson]

That looks wonderful. I'm very excited to see this.

But it also appears to be extremely spoilery. I know trailers are meant to get buts in seats, but it's a shame that studios feel like they have to show parts throughout the entire movie in them.

 

[Jake Lipson]

There was a row of young kids in the row behind me when I saw Inside Out 2 that absolutely lost their minds when the trailer for this movie came up. One of them in particular was so beside himself I wondered if he might have a stroke. I didn't know The Wild Robot was already a big deal, but apparently it is to them. I guess this is based on a book, which I have never heard of and didn't realize. But it mattered a lot to these kids.

Interestingly, the trailer for Moana 2 followed and it was crickets.

 

[Tommy R]

Saw the trailer with both Inside Out 2 a couple weeks ago as well as Despicable Me 4 today. My son who’s 9 is familiar with the books and is a big fan, so we’ll inevitably be going to this. I also feel that the trailer feels kind of spoilery, , hope that it’s still worth it seeing the full thing.

 

[Jake Lipson]

New poster:

 

[Alex...]

83% on Metacritic

 

[Desslar]

The trailer reminds me a lot of the Iron Giant. Except the robot's buddy is not a boy but animals this time.

And the robot design is similar to the robots in Miyazaki's Castle in the Sky.

 

[titch]

Saw it this afternoon. Enjoyable in parts, but formulaic - there was so much chasing and falling over cliffs, as well as the obligatory montage training song, set to the latest anodyne teenybopper. The robot and backgrounds were well animated, but the animals were nowhere near anything Studio Ghibli, Disney or Pixar can do. I won't be adding this to my filmothèque.

 

[Tino]

100% on RT

The Wild Robot | Rotten Tomatoes

The epic adventure follows the journey of a robot--ROZZUM unit 7134, "Roz" 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...

www.rottentomatoes.com

 

[Jake Lipson]

Saw it this afternoon.

How did you get to see it today if it doesn't come out until the 26th?

 

[titch]

How did you get to see it today if it doesn't come out until the 26th?

Pre-premiere!

 

[TravisR]

I thought it was absolutely fantastic.

 

[Josh Steinberg]

I thought it was absolutely fantastic.

So glad to hear it. We’ve been seeing the trailer before nearly every kids movie since the spring and we are ready!

 

[Jake Lipson]

I just got back from seeing it. This movie is absolutely exquisite.

My theater has it on the premium screen for a week before Joker takes over next Thursday. If you're able to find it in a premium auditorium, I think it is worth the upcharge just to soak in this gorgeous animation on the largest screen possible.

I was unaware that The Wild Robot was a book series until some kid behind me at Inside Out 2 nearly had a heart attack when the trailer came on because he was so excited to see what I can only presume must be his favorite book was becoming a movie. I don't know how fans of the novel will respond to the adaptation.

I went because of Chris Sanders directing this. Both Lilo and Stitch and How to Train Your Dragon are exceptional, and The Croods is good. So he has my attention. I knew what the trailers have shown me, which is more than I would like to have known going in, but nothing about the source material. Judging it purely as a film, I think it is excellent.

I think I would have been able to predict the general trajectory of the movie even without the trailers giving too much away. But that didn't make it any less captivating and delightful to watch. The animation is stunning. The characters are well-developed and easily investible.

The voice actors are extremely well-cast and brought a lot to their roles. It didn't feel like anyone was phoning this in. It is difficult to imagine anyone other than Lupita Nyong'o in the lead here, and Sanders is lucky to have her. I'm not sure it would have worked as well without her. Also, Catherine O'Hara was given much better material in this than she was in the unfortunate Beetlejuice sequel I saw in the same room a few weeks ago. I was glad to hear Ving Rhames working with Chris Sanders again for the first time since Lilo & Stitch. That made my heart happy. Star Wars fans will be happy to hear three veterans of that franchise here.

The score by Kris Bowers is notable and really enhanced the storytelling. A pop song written for a scene in the middle was fine but less necessary. Still, I was totally immersed throughout the film.

It is also worth noting that there is a post-credits scene. It is more of a final funny gag with some of the animal characters rather than an additional plot point or sequel tease. But I was still glad I stayed and saw it. No one else at my screening did.

For some reason, there was also a significantly lighter load of trailers than usual. I came in around the listed showtime, and the only trailer I saw was Wicked. I despise that show, but I was glad to get to the movie sooner rather than later after its ad ended.

Because I went during the day on a Friday, the movie was gladly not too crowded with screaming kids. The few kids that were there were engaged enough to be respectful rather than rambunctious.

I came home and immediately locked in my preorder with Gruv. I look forward to adding this to my Blu-ray collection in due course. But I definitely think it is worth a theater trip for those who are able to do that and considering one.

The robot and backgrounds were well animated, but the animals were nowhere near anything Studio Ghibli, Disney or Pixar can do.

I think everything about this film, including the animation, is leaps and bounds better than anything in Wish, which Disney released last year. It's not even close.

 

[Josh Steinberg]

It is also worth noting that there is a post-credits scene.

I appreciate that, thank you!

Also glad to know it’s as good as it looks. We’re going Sunday!