By: Andrew Wing, Contributing Writer
Luca is a 2021 American computer-animated coming-of-age fantasy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The film is directed by Enrico Casarosa (in his feature-length directorial debut) and also written by Jesse Andrews (Me and Earl and the Dying Girl) and Mike Jones (Soul). Set on the Italian Riviera in the 1950s-1960s, the film follows Luca Paguro, voiced by Jacob Tremblay (Wonder, Good Boys), a sea monster boy with the ability to assume human form while on land with his new best friend Alberto Scorfano, voiced by Jack Dylan Grazer (It, It Chapter Two, Shazam!). Together, the boys explore the town of Portorosso and experience a life-changing summer.
It goes without saying that when Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney get together to make a movie, it usually turns out pretty good. For example, some of the films they have done in the past include Toy Story, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Inside Out, and Coco just to name a few. With that said, I had to check this movie out once it hit Disney+ just because of Pixar and Disney’s track record together, and let’s just say, I was not disappointed.
THE GOOD
If there is one thing that Pixar and Disney know how to do extremely well, it is creating worlds with their feature films. Yes, they also are extremely good at making sequels to their original films which I love, and making billions of dollars off of them, but I continue to be impressed with all of their new original content full of great new characters and even greater stories. Just last year they came out with both Onward and Soul, two amazing movies that were very successful and I’d say they’ve done it again with Luca. Not all the credits goes to Pixar and Disney though, writers Jesse Andrews and Mike Jones did a fantastic job with this script and it truly is a beautiful story.
Speaking of names attached to the making of this movie, Enrico Casarosa had about just as good a directorial debut as you can have with this. He knocked it out of the park. Luca actually takes inspiration from Casarosa’s childhood in Genoa, Italy. Speaking of which, I really loved the visuals in this movie of the stunning country that is Italy. Several Pixar artists were actually sent to the Italian Riviera to gather research from Italian culture and environment, and the use of sea monsters in this movie stems from old Italian regional myths and folklore where a sea monster is a “metaphor for feeling different”. All of these things I think really contributed to my enjoyment of this film, as it provides you with a sort-of nostalgic feel throughout with all the superb animated visuals.
Aside from the story and the visuals, the voice cast for this movie was just perfect. Both Jacob Tremblay and Jack Dylan Grazer have already made their presence felt in the movie industry which is remarkable considering they are both still only teenagers. Other than them though, I loved the performances from Maya Rudolph (Saturday Night Live, Bridesmaids) and Jim Gaffigan (17 Again, The Jim Gaffigan Show). These two always find ways to make me laugh no matter what they are in and they did just that in Luca as Luca’s parents, Daniela and Lorenzo Paguro.
THE BAD
In my last review of No Sudden Move, I made a point of how I have a hard time finding things bad with movies I really like and that is just the case with Luca. To be honest, I think you’d be hard pressed to find anything “bad” with this movie at all. It is a beautiful story meant to be watched together as a family and I promise you’ll love every second of it.
THE VERDICT
Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Studios have done it again! In his feature-length directorial debut, Enrico Casarosa brings you Luca, a beautiful story of a boy, who also happens to be a sea monster, just trying to find his place in the world. It is helped by an astounding voice cast led by Jacob Tremblay, magnificent animated visuals of the Italian Riviera in the 1950s-1960s, and much much more!
TED TAKES RATING - 8.4/10
Luca is now streaming on Disney+. Check out the latest trailer below.