The Wild Robot

Fink. Fink, I hated you Fink. For a good chunk, my guy.

‘The Wild Robot’ has a stacked but ultimately successfully completed mandate - adapt a book, and in turn, marry together the twin causes of Climate Change and Technology being able to save the world, provide the message in a way that feels natural, not heavy handed, and do what Dreamworks does best — make a loveable character that kids want a plushie of and 18 sequels for.

While I don’t see the film getting a sequel (although it totally left the door open), the art style alone would be a beautiful leap into a new era of filmmaking from Dreamworks. However, it stuns further: they quite brazenly are trying to tug at your heartstrings, and yet did not make me hate them for it, and even worse…they were successful. A lot of tears!

The character work is exaggerated, as it should be, and the film feels as if it’s ending at multiple points in the story, which all inspire a sense of relief when you realise there’s more to go and you can stay in this world a little longer. Rewatch potential out of the roof here, especially because the main 3 leads are all so adorable (Eventually. Fink got on my nerves for the first half, not gonna lie.)

I think it came to TIFF because this film has an edge to it, for all of it's coziness and cuteness. There’s some heavy themes being covered by very light fare, and I think it’s all done with an immense skill. You won’t be thinking about who voices who at any point, as everyone melts into their characters with ease (I’m thinking especially of Catherine O’Hara).

Highly recommend, and if you feel like you want to splurge, it’s worth the IMAX too.