Despite the changing landscapes and ecosystems all throughout the last century of the filmmaking medium, one thing has remained virtually the same: kids will always seek adventure. And given the wealth of films released even in the last few years that tackle that exact idea, it seems like that will never go out of style. Which is to say that Ugo Bienvenu’s feature directorial debut is treading in some well-worn thematic territory by now, but does that change its effectiveness?
The titular 10-year-old boy Arco, voiced by Juliano Krue Valdi, lives high above the Earth’s surface in the year 2932. Despite being told he is too young, Arco wants to time travel with his father and mother, voiced by Roeg Sutherland and America Ferrera (“Superstore,” “Barbie”) respectively. One night, he steals a rainbow time travel suit and attempts to venture on his own. He ends up trapped in the year 2075 and quickly befriends Iris, voiced by Romy Fay (“Best Foot Forward,” “The Wingfeather Saga”), a young girl who also seeks life outside of her home. After they decide to work to get Arco home, they find themselves pursued by Iris’s robotic companion maid Mikki, voiced by Mark Ruffalo (“Spotlight,” “The Avengers”) and Natalie Portman (“V for Vendetta,” “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith”), and three conspiracy theorist brothers Dougie, Stewie, and Frankie, voiced by Will Ferrell (“Anchorman,” “Stranger Than Fiction”), Andy Samberg (“Palm Springs,” “Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping”), and Flea (“The Wild Thornberrys Movie,” “Baby Driver”), respectively.
The English voice cast do an excellent job keeping in step with the film’s decidedly French sense of melancholy and science fiction. Valdi and Fay have great chemistry and immediately feel like a pair of best friends. Ferrera and Sutherland don’t get as much material to work with but are a spot of warmth when they do appear. Ruffalo and Portman’s joint performance is one of the highlights of the film just in the way they’re blended together, crafting a unique take on this kind of archetype. Ferrell, Samberg, and Flea are another highlight simply due to their commitment to the specific degree of over-the-top vocal performances required for their roles here.
Bienvenu and co-writer Félix de Givry spend ample time establishing the world of “arco” in intriguing ways. It feels as though each scene contains some new or visually inventive way to translate everyday actions into a science-fiction concept. What they do with the houses in the year 2075 is particularly creative and fun. Arco and Iris get plenty of fun times together, and the pair are bonded from their basic idea of wanting to reach out beyond their homes. The issue arises in that neither have strict arcs of any kind. Yes, Arco does get a bit of comeuppance for stealing the time travel suit, but they’re both ultimately the same as when the film begins, just with the adventure they so desired now under their belt.
This means that, as entertaining and fun as it is, much of the brief 89-minute runtime can feel superfluous. Not to the plot itself, but in that there aren’t major themes that are touched on apart from just some kids wanting to adventure. The moment-to-moment dialogue is quite excellent, and the whirlwind nature of this adventure is thoroughly entertaining and downright exciting. But if you’re looking for any kind of vegetables to go along with your cinematic eye-candy, you’ll come up lacking. Thankfully, that eye candy is exactly that, as the visuals of “Arco” are spectacular. Colors pop from every frame, and the aesthetics of each future world are packed with details and wonder. The blending of pseudo 3D stylings with 2D animation gives everything a slightly futuristic and yet otherworldly look that sets it apart from almost every other animated film released this year.
“Arco” is certainly entertaining and a visual feast for anyone who enjoys animated films. It’s vision of the future is inventive and fun, and Arco and Iris’s adventure is easy to get invested in. If the whole adventure seems too slight, then that’s a small price to pay for what is an otherwise beautiful and detailed little slice of a childlike future. 4/5
No comments:
Post a Comment