Dumbo (2019)

UK Release Date: 29 March 2019
Certification: PG
Director: Tim Burton
Cast: Alan Arkin, Danny DeVito, Colin Farrell, Joseph Gatt, Eva Green, Finley Hobbins, Michael Keaton, Nico Parker
Rating: 55%

"When I See An Elephant Fly"

Review:
Dumbo is a delightful reimagining of the original all-time classic Disney movie released in 1941. Read my review of the original here.

Dumbo was incredibly faithful to the original storyline and spirit. Characters like Casey Jr, Timothy Q. Mouse and Mr Stork make cameo appearances. The brilliant Danny Elfman creates amazing reworkings of the original songs such as 'Train's a Comin' and 'Baby Mine'. The screenwriters even manage to fit in the lyrics of 'When I See An Elephant Fly' to announce Dumbo's debut at Dreamland.

Tim Burton, who is one of my favourite directors, did an absolutely amazing job in creating a new storyline for Dumbo, with not much to base his story on, as the original Dumbo is only sixty two minutes long. He had too create new characters as in the original most of the main characters are talking animals. Burton, instead, bases the story on a circus family and how Dumbo affects their lives. I wasn't sure this would work, but I was surprised because not only did it work, I ended up liking most of the characters. 

Burton assembles a stellar cast, including stars like Danny DeVito, Colin Farrell, Eva Green and Michael Keaton. Both Finley Hobbins and Nico Parker make their on screen debuts - I thought Finley Hobbins was average, but Nico Parker was excellent. I imagine she is destined for a life in Hollywood. In a movie with such a strong cast she stole the show. Colin Farrell too, was brilliant and I loved him in the role of Holt Farrier and Danny DeVito's character, Max Medici, provided most of the laughs. Michael Keaton was once again a great villain.

From the moment Dumbo begins I was mesmerised with Dumbo. He is, in my opinion, the cutest living thing that has been computer generated. I stared at his massive blue eyes the whole time and found his enormous ears adorable.

The ending of Dumbo for me, wasn't that good. Yes, it was sad and I felt my eyes begin to water a little but it was all a bit confusing and unnecessary. I didn't really understand why Eva Green's character was needed in the movie. Also repeating the same plot point - Dumbo flying for a while, only for him to stop early and the audience asking for their money back - more than once was just lazy writing.

I am slightly suspicious if the studio is trying to set up a sequel, nonetheless if a sequel were made I would definitely go see it and would love to see what other adventures Dumbo gets up to.