by Josh Sewell
The Wild Robot
(Rated PG for action/peril and thematic elements. Opens in theaters on September 27.)
The premise: Based on Peter Brown’s bestselling book, this animated adventure follows the journey of robot ROZZUM Unit 7134 (Lupita Nyong’o) – or Roz for short – who is stranded on an uninhabited island. As she adapts to her surroundings, she gradually builds relationships with the island’s animals and becomes the adoptive parent of an orphaned gosling (Kit Connor).
The verdict: Chris Sanders has played a key role in some of the greatest animated films ever made, including the phenomenal Lilo & Stitch and How to Train Your Dragon. The writer-director has another instant classic on his hands with this tale of a robot who learns to live outside her programming and affects her new neighbors in deeply moving ways.
I’ll get right to the point – The Wild Robot is one of 2024’s best films, animated or otherwise. It has more heart, creativity and stunning visuals than most of the live action stuff I watched this year. In fact, I’d argue it’s easily one of the greatest animated films of the decade. Not bad for a movie that came out of nowhere and destroyed my emotions. (By some miracle, I hadn’t even seen a trailer before walking into the theater.)
While the gorgeous animation and the outstanding lead performance from Nyong’o are the biggest selling points, the supporting voice cast is terrific as well. Actors like Pedro Pascal, Catherine O’Hara, Bill Nighy, Mark Hamill and Ving Rhames add depth to what could’ve easily been stock characters or unnecessary comic relief.
Grade: A
Wolfs
(Rated R for language throughout and some violent content. Available on Apple TV+ starting September 27.)
The premise: In this action comedy, George Clooney plays a professional fixer hired to cover up a high-profile crime. But when a second fixer (Brad Pitt) shows up and the two “lone wolves” are forced to work together, they find their night spiraling out of control in ways that neither one of them expected.
The verdict: Writer-director Jon Watts (Tom Holland’s Spider-Man flicks) crafts a fairly standard comedic thriller – complete with all the clichés you expect – but it’s immensely watchable thanks to Clooney and Pitt’s charisma. I can see why Apple is already working on a sequel.
On the plus side, Watts isn’t interested in telling an overly convoluted story. At just under two hours, the action kicks off immediately; viewers only have to wait a few minutes to see Clooney and Pitt’s unnamed characters start bickering and collaborating in equal measure.
A couple of recognizable character actors show up briefly (including Amy Ryan and Richard Kind, great as always), but this is primarily a two-man show for the movie’s first hour. Austin Abrams plays a more prominent (and funny) role in the second half, but elaborating would give away the one aspect of the story that actually surprised me.
Grade: B
Will & Harper
(Rated R for language. Now playing in select theaters and available on Netflix starting September 27.)
The premise: During the pandemic, actor Will Ferrell received an email from his good friend and fellow Saturday Night Live veteran coming out to him as a trans woman named Harper Steele. In this frank, poignant documentary, the duo embarks on a cross-country road trip to process this new stage of their three-decade friendship and provide a safe way for Steele to revisit places across America that she loves.
The verdict: Because politicians have turned transgender rights into a volatile issue over the past few years, there’s been a lot of miscommunication and hate directed toward a small community of already vulnerable people. Will & Harper seeks to ease some of that tension by informing and educating in an engaging way that doesn’t feel preachy or self-righteous.
Director Josh Greenbaum (the criminally underrated Barb and Star Go to Vista del Mar) always keeps Ferrell and Steele’s friendship at the forefront, so the whole movie feels like being in the middle of an engaging conversation during a long car ride. Ferrell assumes the role of an “average Joe” who is navigating new waters: he loves his friend, but he’s got a lot of questions.
He also does his best to serve as a buffer between Steele and people they encounter who aren’t as understanding. By doing the usual shtick his fans expect, he’s mostly able to keep Steele out of the spotlight when she doesn’t want to be the center of attention. However, that doesn’t always work, as a particularly harrowing sequence at a Texas restaurant proves.
The duo feels the energy shift from curiosity to something more ominous, which leaves Ferrell shaken and upset that he put his friend in such a potentially dangerous situation. But there are also surprising moments of acceptance in unlikely places, which genuinely touches Steele.
Although it can get a bit repetitive at times, Will & Harper is mostly an entertaining, often profound look at an evolving friendship. Plus, considering there are conversations with Ferrell’s other SNL friends like Tina Fey, Tim Meadows, Will Forte and Kristen Wiig, it’s often hilarious.
Grade: A-
(Rated PG for action/peril and thematic elements. Opens in theaters on September 27.)
The premise: Based on Peter Brown’s bestselling book, this animated adventure follows the journey of robot ROZZUM Unit 7134 (Lupita Nyong’o) – or Roz for short – who is stranded on an uninhabited island. As she adapts to her surroundings, she gradually builds relationships with the island’s animals and becomes the adoptive parent of an orphaned gosling (Kit Connor).
The verdict: Chris Sanders has played a key role in some of the greatest animated films ever made, including the phenomenal Lilo & Stitch and How to Train Your Dragon. The writer-director has another instant classic on his hands with this tale of a robot who learns to live outside her programming and affects her new neighbors in deeply moving ways.
I’ll get right to the point – The Wild Robot is one of 2024’s best films, animated or otherwise. It has more heart, creativity and stunning visuals than most of the live action stuff I watched this year. In fact, I’d argue it’s easily one of the greatest animated films of the decade. Not bad for a movie that came out of nowhere and destroyed my emotions. (By some miracle, I hadn’t even seen a trailer before walking into the theater.)
While the gorgeous animation and the outstanding lead performance from Nyong’o are the biggest selling points, the supporting voice cast is terrific as well. Actors like Pedro Pascal, Catherine O’Hara, Bill Nighy, Mark Hamill and Ving Rhames add depth to what could’ve easily been stock characters or unnecessary comic relief.
Grade: A
(Rated R for language throughout and some violent content. Available on Apple TV+ starting September 27.)
The premise: In this action comedy, George Clooney plays a professional fixer hired to cover up a high-profile crime. But when a second fixer (Brad Pitt) shows up and the two “lone wolves” are forced to work together, they find their night spiraling out of control in ways that neither one of them expected.
The verdict: Writer-director Jon Watts (Tom Holland’s Spider-Man flicks) crafts a fairly standard comedic thriller – complete with all the clichés you expect – but it’s immensely watchable thanks to Clooney and Pitt’s charisma. I can see why Apple is already working on a sequel.
On the plus side, Watts isn’t interested in telling an overly convoluted story. At just under two hours, the action kicks off immediately; viewers only have to wait a few minutes to see Clooney and Pitt’s unnamed characters start bickering and collaborating in equal measure.
A couple of recognizable character actors show up briefly (including Amy Ryan and Richard Kind, great as always), but this is primarily a two-man show for the movie’s first hour. Austin Abrams plays a more prominent (and funny) role in the second half, but elaborating would give away the one aspect of the story that actually surprised me.
Grade: B
(Rated R for language. Now playing in select theaters and available on Netflix starting September 27.)
The premise: During the pandemic, actor Will Ferrell received an email from his good friend and fellow Saturday Night Live veteran coming out to him as a trans woman named Harper Steele. In this frank, poignant documentary, the duo embarks on a cross-country road trip to process this new stage of their three-decade friendship and provide a safe way for Steele to revisit places across America that she loves.
The verdict: Because politicians have turned transgender rights into a volatile issue over the past few years, there’s been a lot of miscommunication and hate directed toward a small community of already vulnerable people. Will & Harper seeks to ease some of that tension by informing and educating in an engaging way that doesn’t feel preachy or self-righteous.
Director Josh Greenbaum (the criminally underrated Barb and Star Go to Vista del Mar) always keeps Ferrell and Steele’s friendship at the forefront, so the whole movie feels like being in the middle of an engaging conversation during a long car ride. Ferrell assumes the role of an “average Joe” who is navigating new waters: he loves his friend, but he’s got a lot of questions.
He also does his best to serve as a buffer between Steele and people they encounter who aren’t as understanding. By doing the usual shtick his fans expect, he’s mostly able to keep Steele out of the spotlight when she doesn’t want to be the center of attention. However, that doesn’t always work, as a particularly harrowing sequence at a Texas restaurant proves.
The duo feels the energy shift from curiosity to something more ominous, which leaves Ferrell shaken and upset that he put his friend in such a potentially dangerous situation. But there are also surprising moments of acceptance in unlikely places, which genuinely touches Steele.
Although it can get a bit repetitive at times, Will & Harper is mostly an entertaining, often profound look at an evolving friendship. Plus, considering there are conversations with Ferrell’s other SNL friends like Tina Fey, Tim Meadows, Will Forte and Kristen Wiig, it’s often hilarious.
Grade: A-
Reach out to Josh Sewell at joshsewell81@gmail.com
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