By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
NICASIO, CALIFORNIA--"The Wild Robot," is the latest gem from DreamWorks Animation that is perfectly suited for kids and parents alike. Directed and written by
Chris Sanders ("How to Train Your Dragon," "The Croods," and "Lilo & Stitch), the movie with its incredible hand painted visuals and CGI imagery, stuns in every way and tells an irresistible and simple beautiful story.
N2Entertainment.net recently attended a press screening of "The Wild Robot" at
George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch, Stag Theater. While this movie is sure to impress on any screen, experiencing it on the largest one possible will allow you to fully immerse yourself in every delightful moment.
Based on
Peter Brown's 2016 novel, "The Wild Robot" is a tale about unconditional love, trust, and the concept of adopted families in their many forms. The story follows Rozzum Unit 7134, affectionately known as "Roz" (voiced brilliantly by Lupita Nyong'o, "A Quiet Place: Day One"). Built as a futuristic robot designed to assist humans, Roz finds herself stranded on a remote island after a storm sinks the container ship carrying her. Roz's journey unfolds in unexpected ways as she learns to adapt and survive in the wild, surrounded by a variety of animals who are initially skeptical of her skills.
Roz's outlook changes dramatically when she meets Fink (voiced by Pedro Pascal, "Gladiator II"), a mischievous red fox who quickly becomes her friend. Along with an orphaned runt Barnacle goose named Brightbill (Kit Connor, TV's "Heartstopper"), Roz begins to navigate the challenges of motherhood. Brightbill takes a liking to Roz, and she finds herself raising him as if he were her own. Together, Roz and Fink devise a plan to help Brightbill through his infancy, focusing on building his confidence and teaching him to fly.
Nurturing has never been part of Roz's programming, so she must learn to understand the needs of her newfound friends, including Pinktail, the mother opossum (Catherine O'Hara, "Beetlejuice"), who offers sage and humorous advice on parenting. Roz also receives support from Longneck, an elderly goose (Bill Nighy, "The First Omen"), Thorn, a grizzly bear (Mark Hamill, TV's "Invincible"), Paddler, a clever beaver (Matt Berry, TV's "Krapopolis"), and Thunderbolt, a wise falcon (Ving Rhames, "Mission: Impossible--Dead Reckoning Part One").
As Roz develops emotional connections with her furry companions, she is unknowingly tracked by a fellow robot (Stephanie Hsu, "The Fall Guy," "Everything Everywhere All at Once"), adding a layer of tension and excitement to the story. This impending confrontation serves as one of several thrilling highlights in this heartwarming tale.
"The Wild Robot" weaves together dramatic moments with lighthearted ones, creating a wildly entertaining sci-fi adventure. Its poignant message about embracing differences and finding family in unexpected places makes it a timeless story to boot.
Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays now at 5:17 p.m. and 6:47 p.m. on radio station KFBK 93.1 FM and 1530 AM.
Look At This Trailer For
"THE WILD ROBOT"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), The American Film Institute (AFI), and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
