STRANGE WORLD is directed by Don Hall and Qui Nguyen. The film features the voices of Jake Gyllenhaal, Dennis Quaid, Jaboukie Young-White, Gabrielle Union, and Lucy Liu.
Jaeger and Searcher Clade are explorers famed for their exploits, but differences in opinions and goals drive the two apart. Searcher’s discovery makes him revered in society, and he has since married and had a son. He’s beloved and hailed as a hero, but mysterious catastrophic events threaten everything he’s worked so hard for. A party travels underground to investigate the mystery, during which time Searcher is reunited by his estranged father after 25 years. But what is the mystery of this underground world, and will our heroes escape and save the day?
Disney continues to crack out animated films like clockwork. The trailers for STRANGE WORLD immediately appealed to me with a storytelling style and artwork reminiscent of old “pulp novels” and classic-style adventure stories. The film is well animated, colorful, and adventurous, but it ultimately fails to bring anything new to the table. It’s an average entry in their catalogue; nothing less and nothing more.
I’ll give STRANGE WORLD credit for its character designs, colorful settings, and its homages to vintage storytelling. It’s got a solid enough voice cast as well featuring everyone from Dennis Quaid to Lucy Liu. In terms of its production, STRANGE WORLD works well enough, with its surreal landscapes and pursuits of adventure.
Unfortunately, as well-intentioned as the movie is, it just doesn’t do anything revolutionary or interesting. As much as I loved the visuals and voice cast, this ultimately felt like a paint-by-numbers story with plenty of overdone elements, including estranged fathers and sons, and even a plot twist that feels fully unoriginal regarding the nature of the titular landscape. While not overly long, it does feel bland at times, and there’s an undying feeling of “haven’t I seen this before?”
STRANGE WORLD is a good but not great film. Disney was once the only game in town when it came to animated films, but this year alone, there have been so many other worthy contenders that leave this one in the dust. Moderately recommended, but there are better family-friendly animated movies out there.
By Taylor T Carlson
Taylor T Carlson Assistant Editor/Senior Staff Writer Taylor T. Carlson was born August 17, 1984, and has called the Vegas Valley home his entire life. A die-hard fan of classic rock and metal music, Taylor has been writing album and concert reviews since he was 16 years old, and continues to do so, having done well over 1,000 reviews. He is also a fan of video gaming and cinema, and has reviewed a number of games and films as well, old and new alike. His thorough and honest (some would say brutally honest) reviewing style has won him the respect of hundreds of music fans and musicians alike, both local and abroad, and the ire of just as many others. Despite being one of the youngest attendees at classic hard rock/metal shows around Vegas, he is also one of the most knowledgeable, having gained the unofficial nickname of “The Eddie Trunk of Las Vegas.” In addition to reviews, Taylor has written and self-published three books on classic hard rock bands, and is a regular participant in rock and roll trivia contests. Taylor also holds a masters degree in special education from the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), and has appeared on the hit History Channel television series Pawn Stars. His dream is to be able to one day make a living from writing music books and reviews.