Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken (2023) - Movie Review

This film feels like a course correction in the worst way possible. DreamWorks Animation, who have dealt with labels of ‘Disney/Pixar rip-off’ pretty much since their inception, have recently been making films that are not only really damn good, but good in a way that sidesteps any kind of association with other studios. The Trolls movies, The Bad Guys, Captain Underpants, How To Train Your Dragon, not to mention last year’s genuine artistic triumph with Puss In Boots: The Last Wish. Their reputation in the modern day is quite secure, far as I’m concerned… which is what makes their latest release so thoroughly disappointing.

Vivo (2021) - Movie Review

Okay, I know that I’ve been stanning Lin-Manuel Miranda pretty hard these last few weeks, but in my defence, his isn’t the only name attached to this that made me want to see this particular film. A Sony Pictures animation, in the same year that they crushed it with The Mitchells Vs. The Machines, co-written by Quiara Alegría Hudes who also did In The Heights, production blessing from Wreck-It Ralph director Rich Moore, even a consulting credit from Roger freaking Deakins; that’s gotta equal up to something worthwhile. And yeah, it’s pretty entertaining, but just about every good quality about it comes with a massive “But” after it.