Robert E. Acuña’s review published on Letterboxd:
"How do you know so much about Love?" - Roz
"When you grow up without something, you spend a lot of time thinking about it." - Fink
Dreamworks Animation leans hard onto its comedies so often & so frequently that whenever they make something this thought-provoking & moving, it's always a wonderful surprise.
'The Wild Robot' is easily one of the greatest Dreamworks Animation films in the studio's history and it continues to prove that every once in a while, they can rival the Mouse in ways they couldn't even fathom.
I knew this was going to be something special when the first teaser was released, but never in my wildest dreams did I think it would be THAT good.
From the gorgeous art style that picks up where 'Puss in Boots: The Last Wish' left off, down to the insanely scenic cinematography, this film goes out of its way to be the most beautiful-looking animated film you've ever seen.
But what always matters most is the story, and 'The Wild Robot' reinvents the standard robot-trope that animated films are obsessed with, and gives it a new meaning.
Sure, the film has similarities to 'Wall-E', 'The Iron Giant', and so much more, but it thankfully never leans hard on those concepts because this isn't a romance & this isn't about being a weapon of mass destruction.
It's about being more than what we are told to be.
In Roz's POV, it's about being more than a butler droid and becoming a free spirit where each choice made is of its own volition.
And all Roz wants to be is a mother to a baby gosling.
There are many ways to interpret this film beyond its cutesy themes of identity & self-worth because there is an underlying message within Roz & Brightbill.
Throughout the film, they are perceived as different, weird, and defective. Roz is told repeatedly that she is broken while Brightbill is told that he is runt on borrowed time.
I love the idea that this film could be interpreted as a story about neurodivergence & disabilities and how being "something" doesn't mean you are without worth.
Underdog stories are a tale as old as time, but the way 'The Wild Robot' reestablishes this trope with an outer layer of indifference & acceptance is truly beautiful.
Not to mention the whole subplot where Fink is unable to comprehend how anyone could even love him because he, too, was seen as an "outcast".
Lupita Nyong'o & Kit Connor are a lovely duo that stole my heart throughout the entire film but the MVP has to go to Pedro Pascal as Fink. I'm typically good with recognizing voice actors but in this film, Pedro uses his normal voice instead of his "gruff one" from 'The Last of Us' or 'The Mandalorian' and I had no idea it was him. Throughout the film, all I could think was how incredible Fink's actor was, and lo & behold, it was Papa Pedro. The guy just keeps finding new ways to impress me.
'The Wild Robot' took my breath away and I haven't been this jovial about an animated film since 'The Mitchell's Vs. The Machines'.
Sadly, it may very be the last of its kind. This is officially the LAST Dreamworks Animation film to be made in-house, so going forward, Dreamworks will be outsourcing their animation to other studios similar to Illumination.
This truly was a labor of love & it shows.
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Side note: I never could understand why certain people are moved to tears when they see something cute. Whether it is a puppy, and baby, or anything in between, I never got why something cute would make you cry.
Now I do, baby Brightbill was so damn cute it made me an emotional mess. Lmao.
Also, can we put Matt Berry in everything? Easily my favorite of the silly wild creatures.
