'Forgotten Island' Review: A Zany, Wildly Entertaining Family Adventure
Dreamworks is back with Forgotten island, a zany, wildly entertaining and heartfelt family adventure that continues to showcase a wonderful evolution for the beloved animation studio.
‘Forgotten Island’ centers on two young girls named Raissa (Liza Soberano) and Jo (H.E.R.), best friends who have had a long-lasting friendship since childhood and have been essentially inseparable. However, their bond is firmly put the test when the two of them get transported to a mythical island named Nakali where they discover that the only way they can successfully return home is if they erase the memories they have of one another. Rounding out the impressive voice cast is Dave Franco, Ronnie Chieng, Manny Jacinto, Jenny Slate, Lea Salonga and Jo Koy. On paper, this animated adventure is a hybrid of both ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’ and ‘The Hangover’, a combination that simply shouldn’t work. However, in the steady assured hands of directors Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, who previously helmed the superb ‘Puss In Boots: The Last Wish’, it does so effortlessly and earnestly.
Dreamworks has stepped up their game considerably in recent years with their recent slate of films, veering away from their traditional animation style in favor of new techniques and visual aesthetics, a choice that has worked wonders for the studio. The animation here continues that evolution, stunning and dizzyingly creative in equal measure. What this team of animators have accomplished is nothing short of remarkable, every frame bursting with colors, creativity and palpable energy that never dissipates for even an instant. There are various animation styles at play here but they all blend together seamlessly, never utilized as gimmicks or distractions, but rather narrative tools that significantly enhance the storytelling and character work. The character animations, in addition to the meticulous designs of every landscape and creature of Nakali, is brought to life with so much thoughtful detail and passion that it’s virtually impossible not to become fully enveloped by the world Mercado, Crawford and their immensely talented animation steam have so carefully and meticulously crafted. Simply put, this may be Dreamworks’ most visually dazzling film to date.
Not only are the visuals phenomenal, but the voice performances are also incredibly strong here. Soberano and H.E.R. both deliver terrific performances, making the core friendship between Jo and Raissa feel fully lived-in and developed, sharing an easygoing and natural chemistry that makes their dynamic exceedingly warm and infectious on screen. The supporting turns from Franco, who plays a weredog named Raww, Slate, who portrays a memory demon named Batiba, and Jacinto, who plays Bungi, a Tiyanak, are all fantastic, delivering plenty of laughs and heart in equal measure. The combination of all these colorful and eclectic characters makes for an incredibly entertaining experience that gives audiences plenty to chew on and enjoy.
The film also has a winning balance of humor and heart, especially the latter which takes centerstage as the film enters its final act. There are plenty of gags and humor that younger audiences will thoroughly enjoy, but there is also quite a bit of comedy that should please adults as well. Like with their last feature, Crawford and Mercado respect younger audiences, never talking down to them or unafraid to utiliize more mature, high-brow humor and tackle heavier themes. Through their emotionally charged storytelling, they’re able to delve into the themes of loss, grief, loneliness, memory and the heartache of growing up all the while delivering boatloads of comedy and heart that make this tale highly accessible for all audiences. The film does a tremendously effective job fleshing out the core relationship between Jo and Raissa, making it easy for the audience to become emotionally invested in their friendship as it is put through the ringer and truly put to the test. These are two characters that would literally do anything for one another, even when they’re at odds with each other, and it’s a beautiful dynamic to watch unfold and play out on screen.
The only minor hindrance slightly holding the film back is the predictability of its storytelling. It isn’t difficult to see the roadmap Mercado and Crawford are using and where they plan to take the characters and the story, which unfortunately results in a film where the story isn’t nearly as wild and audacious as the visuals that populate it. While it would’ve been refreshing to see this story zig when the viewer expects it to zag to be a bit more unconventional, the confidence of the storytelling does the heavy lifting to keep it compelling throughout.
‘Forgotten Island’ continues to showcase an animated studio that refuses to color inside the lines and break new ground with their visual storytelling. This tale of friendship is anything but ordinary, weaving a story that is inventive, immersive and incredibly heartfelt in equal measure as it solidifies itself as one of studio’s finest films to date. If this animated film makes anything abundantly clear, it’s that Dreamworks is starting to stand head and shoulders above its stiff competition, continuing to innovate while other studios play it safe.