Pixar’s The Good Dinosaur | Film Review

Thanksgiving weekend for my family traditionally means a stop at the local Cineplex.  With two under 12, our choices were between the blockhead we always knew, or the new kid in town. My kids unanimously chose PIXAR’s  “The Good Dinosaur”, and as someone who has been waiting for this movie since November of 2013, I can say the wait was worth every mountain berry and kernel of corn!

The 16th major release from Pixar, “The Good Dinosaur” set it’s own “mark” being the first film from the studio to open in the same calendar year as another.  That however, was not the original plan. Slated for a November 2013 release, PIXAR heads John Lasseter and Ed Catmull, as well as the leads on the film, decided to go back to the drawing board and start from scratch.

Most PIXAR films take 4-5 years to complete.  The new team, lead by first time director Peter Sohn, had just 23 months to avoid an asteroid of their own and breathe life back into this project.  Lasseter made the decision to push back the release date to get the movie right, something most studios wouldn’t dare do.  But PIXAR faced its fear of not releasing a major movie every year and pressed on with this classic story of a boy and his dog.

Simplistic in the general plot, “The Good Dinosaur” makes up for a there and back again story in its visual artistry, deep bonds, and that touch of PIXAR magic that – like a firefly – many try and bottle, but only few seem to achieve.  Having seen a few PIXAR films now with my daughter, this film will always hold a special bond for me.  Call me a softie, you know, that guy who brings his own box of tissues to the theater that’s me. Yep, I am a crier.  And not just a crier, a sobber, feeling the pain and struggle all the way through my dinosaur sized heart (just ask my wife about Inside Out).  But this time, through my butter soaked napkin trying to remain the strong one in the group, I saw my daughter just as emotionally connected as I.  Simplistic story aside, this film shared its message and crossed the river perfectly.  Great job, PIXAR! You got me again.



The Short

Before you talk about any PIXAR movie, you must first discuss the animated short, a staple amongst its films.  “The Good Dinosaur” treats us to a culture clash featuring characters of Indian decent for the first time ever in the PIXAR universe.  Directed by Sanjay Patel, “Sanjay’s Super Team” is a loose telling of his own experiences having been raised by a Hindu father in western society.   Sanjay wishes to watch his favorite Saturday morning cartoon super heroes while his father meditates and prays in the same room.  Trumped by his father, Sanjay must turn off the tube and join him in front of what looks strikingly like a television itself.  

Praying  to the gods Vishru, Durga, and Hanuman Sanjay is mystically swept into a battle arena where the gods must prevail over Ravana himself.  Aided by a toy action figure from his superhero cartoon, Sanjay sees beyond the surface to find what matters most, sharing in something that is important to both father and son.  This short for me was middle of the road in comparison to its predecessors, however it exceeds on every account to incorporate such an interesting look at the Indian and Hindu culture.



The Story

It is simply not a PIXAR film to me unless it tells a good story.  Even before and after Dinosaur’s reboot, the core story was that of a boy and his dog. However in this world, where the asteroid did not crash into earth, the dinosaurs evolved into the talking master race and humans have yet to get past their caveman-like state.  The youngest dino in a family of five, Arlo has the task of feeding the chicken-like creatures on the family farm, something he is deathly afraid of.  The other two older siblings excel at their chores allowing them to leave their ‘mark’ on the family silo. Try as he may, Arlo struggles to overcome his fear, leaving him mark-less.

Enter the dog, a young human boy appropriately named Spot who steals from Arlo and his family’s food supply.  Tasked with taking care of the critter, Arlo fails once again and is taught a lesson by his father. Arlo encounters Spot time and again until tragedy strikes, causing Arlo and Spot to be stranded in the wilderness miles from Arlo’s farm.  The two of them must learn to work together or die alone as they overcome fear and loss.    

Along the way Arlo and Spot meet many dangers in the wild from snakes and hyena-like creatures, to Pterodactyls and a few T-REX.  But the greatest danger in the wild is the lonely, empty feeling, separation from family and all that is familiar.   So begins the story to overcome that emptiness and rejoice in the fullness of life around them in their struggle to return home.

 

The Animation

Personally owning all 16 major releases from PIXAR (yes I already pre-ordered my copy before the credits finished) “The Good Dinosaur” is a stunning piece of animation wonder.  Utilizing the northwest United States as its inspiration, the animation team was up against some of the most challenging natural features to bring to life.  The movie focuses on a dinosaur and a boy, but PIXAR has done those characters before. You can even say they tackled mountains and rocks before with Cars.  Now try to do mountains 50 miles away, rushing rivers and waterfalls, mudslides and rain, all while running 15-20 miles per hour to escape your fears. One word, daunting.

Sharon Calahan (Director of Photography), saddled up the troops to take them to Grand Teton National Park which became the backdrop for Arlo’s adventure.  After scouting the location and receiving data from the US Geological Survey, the team had their work cut out for them as most animated films only render the foreground while painting a two dimensional still background.  

But this team would not be stopped, pressing on through its fears, even including fully rendered helicopter panning shots of this stunning landscape.  A majority of the film is even better than a photo-realistic re-creation could achieve. This clarity is no small feat, as the river sequences themselves take up more data storage space than the entirety of Cars 2.  Regardless of how you feel about Cars 2 as a movie, you can clearly see that Dinosaur’s animation palate will have your taste buds zinging.



The Message

Dealing with loss is never easy. Whether a job, a loved one, or even your home we can all relate to how Arlo feels as he is whisked away by the river into the great unknown.  Watching the wildlife gaze back at Arlo as he struggles to find his footing adds humor to the film, but reminds us that there are always those that will try to put us down.  To stop us every chance they get.  Yet in the face of adversity, we must press on no matter the challenge.

Arlo overcomes these obstacles, sometimes with the help of Spot, the help of other dinosaurs, and even from his own courage and ambition as the story progresses.  But as life often shows us each triumph is just a building block to a greater challenge that lies further down the river life.  Spot also realizes through this adventure that as much as he is far superior in his survival skills to Arlo, from time to time, a good dinosaur is handy to have around.  Whether it is to bridge a gap, or enjoy ‘the trip’ they are on.   Journeys are always better with friends.

In the end though, finding who you are inside, what you are made of, is the ultimate struggle and as Arlo and Spot inch closer to Claw Tooth Mountain and the farm, the ‘mark’ Arlo seeks to make may just be the one planted inside of him from the beginning.  But will you just be what you should be, or will you strive for more? And when more happens, there is still yet another challenge to overcome.

 

Conclusion

One part Lion King, another part City Slickers, “The Good Dinosaur” is a simple yet beautiful story about overcoming your fears, having a great adventure, and sharing it with man’s…I mean dino’s best friend.  Saddle up, bring your bestie, and grab a second helping of PIXAR this year.  If you miss this in 3D, you may just miss out on the most beautiful animation ever created.  PIXAR definitely left it’s ‘mark’ not only in our eyes, but also in our hearts.

Troy Heinritz
Contributor
Host – The Blacklist Exposed
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