Dog’s Movie House: “Luca” Another Pixar Gem!

“Luca” is the story of the title character, a young boy who just happens to be a sea monster living in a community off the coast of Italy. He’s a “fish-herder” who dreams of the world above (shades of “The Little Mermaid” here). Of course his parents Daniela and Massimo (a perfectly cast duo of Maya Rudolph and Jim Gaffigan) are terrified of the humans and forbids Luca to even explore an abandoned beach. Of course you know how that’s going to go.

Luca ventures onto a nearby island and encounters Alberto (Jack Dylan Grazer) a solitary boy who also happens to be a sea monster as well. Alberto is a little older if not wiser and soon the two are fast friends who bond over acquiring a Vespa motor scooter to see the world. The good news is that the sea monsters have a magical power that transforms them into humans when they’re out of the water. The bad news is that they have to avoid getting wet at all or their disguises are ruined. Once in the island town of Portorosso, Luca and Alberto team up with Giulia (Emma Berman) a spunky townie to compete in the unusual Portorosso Cup, a triathalon that involves swimming, biking, and, um, eating pasta. All of this happens while Luca tries to avoid his well-meaning parents and avoid the local bully and Cup champion, an asshat by the name of Ercole (Saverio Raimondo).

While that seems a bit to unpack, rest assured that writer/director Enrico Casarosa keeps everything easy to follow and delightfully energetic. There is a bounce to this film that makes seem lighter than other Pixar entries despite tackling issues as abandonment, bullying, and self-expression. Those are heavy issues but in “Luca” they are presented with such as light touch that it feels thematically like a fairly simple children’s cartoon. But the subtext is still there and adult audiences are going to catch on fairly quickly.

The animation and music are all so colorful and energetic that this is a town I want to visit now. “Luca” seems to be set sometime during the fifties or sixties, so we have electricity and television but still that old world charm that feels both lived in and authentic at the same time. The film also has a great deal of funny visual gags, most of them revolving around Luca and Alberto’s attempts to avoid getting wet, but they all serve the story rather than detract from it. With heart, humor, and wonderful animation, “Luca” is a fantastic addition to the Pixar library of classic animated films. 4 1/2 Out Of 5 On Kendog’s Barkometer! So Sayeth The Kendog!

“Luca” is now streaming exclusively on Disney Plus!

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