Dumbo

Overview

A young elephant, whose oversized ears enable him to fly, helps save a struggling circus, but when the circus plans a new venture, Dumbo and his friends discover dark secrets beneath its shiny veneer.

Rating

9 Reviews

• 

  Gimly

  3 Jul 17, 2019

  Can't believe I got cheated out of Pink Elephants on Parade like that. Literally the only reason I watched this. _Final rating:★½: - Boring/disappointing. Avoid where possible._

• 

  r96sk

  7 Nov 18, 2020

  Straight off the bat: I do not like the 1941 original, which is one of Disney's weakest animated films in my opinion. So that's worth bearing in mind. 2019's 'Dumbo' surpasses the '41 film with ease, it's admittedly a low bar. There's actually a storyline to this one which is pleasing, while the live-action nature really helps suck me into believing in the - obviously ludicrous - plot. With that noted, it isn't perfect. The pacing is off, while the antagonists are a bit irritating - if suitably cast. As for the protagonist, Colin Farrell plays his role nicely. Danny DeVito is an obvious but excellent cast for Max Medici, while Michael Keaton and Eva Green suit their roles. Amusing cameo from Michael Buffer too, by the way. As for the kid actors, not great... There is no real human appearance in the first film, so this one had to create one from scratch and I think they did a good job. Dumbo is super cute, just as before, and his story is undoubtedly hearty; which are arguably the only things that the 40s film did right. Overall, I liked this remake.

• 

  Wuchak

  5 Mar 1, 2021

  _**It looks great and has a fine cast, but the story’s curiously lackluster**_ After WW1, a struggling American circus discovers they have a star attraction on hand, a big-eared baby elephant that can fly! Colin Farrell plays the one-armed elephant trainer, Danny DeVito the circus owner, Michael Keaton a Walt Disney-like entrepreneur and Eva Green his French performer. “Dumbo” (2019) is a live-action remake of the 1941 classic and almost twice as long. Being made by Tim Burton, it LOOKS great and you can’t beat the cast (except for the monotone kids). Unfortunately the story is generally dull. One can’t help but think of the excellent “Water for Elephants” (2011), but this is nowhere near the same league. The flat script by Ehren Kruger needed reworked for more human interest and pizazz. It plays it too safe. It’s strange that a Disney film would feature a Walt Disney-like character (with ‘Dreamland’ standing in for Disneyland), but put a malevolent spin on him. Meanwhile the sharp Green is serviceable as the aerial performer who works with Dumbo, but she seemed to be a tad long-in-the-tooth for the role at 38 during shooting. As a fan of the underrated “Dark Shadows” (2012) I thought I’d like this despite the bad reviews and mediocre box office performance. Wrong. It’s okay, but that’s not good enough for a live-action remake of such an iconic flick. The film runs 1 hour, 57 minutes, and was shot in Cardington, Bedfordshire, England, and Pinewood Studios, which is about an hour south in the west London area. GRADE: C

• 

  Filipe Manuel Neto

  8 Jun 18, 2022

  **It's not perfect, it's not extraordinary, but I liked what I saw, and I think the film manages to deliver what it promises.** In 1941, Disney debuted one of its most outstanding feature films and the shortest. Relatively cheap to produce and without great ambitions, the film was a success and even the US entry into World War II did not turn away the public, who saw the film as a welcome escape. It would also be the first Disney film to be released on VHS and is now considered an important part of the history of animated cinema, and of universal cultural memory. Making a live-action with enough dignity to match the original was, therefore, a very demanding task in itself. I cannot say that the result fully achieved the objectives, but the truth is that I liked what I saw. Unlike the original film, which focuses on how Dumbo overcame being different from the others, this film passes very briefly on that subject, almost never addresses the issue of difference, and chooses to focus on what happens next, on how the circus deals with unexpected success, and in Dumbo's relationship with his mother and the human elements that surround him. There are some predictable sub-plots here, such as the drama of the Farrier family, grappling with the death of their mother and the return of their father, injured, from the war, or the difficulties of a small circus with financial problems to compete with other entertainments. However, the movie seems to get darker and more adult as we watch it, and the truth is that I would have some doubts about letting young children see this movie. The main human role in the film is played by the experienced Colin Farrell, who offers us a good job, full of commitment, but unable to resist when he has to share the scene with Danny DeVito, a very charismatic actor who feels completely comfortable in his role, shinning in a very particular way here. Eva Green also deserves an applause for her work here, in yet another character that is somewhat peculiar, but full of elegance. Unfortunately, the rest of the cast is considerably less interesting and works less well: Michael Keaton is a predictable and uninteresting villain, more contrived than menacing; Alan Arkin doesn't have more than a cameo with a few lines of spoken text; Nico Parker and Finley Hobbins don't do more than what's asked of them, and that's not enough. Directed by Tim Burton, the film was destined from the start to be a massive work of high-quality visual effects and CGI. Burton likes that, all his films have a lot of visual elements and the visual aesthetic, sometimes a bit far-fetched and kitschy, is one of the style marks of this director, who in this film seems to want to capture the most of the magic of life in the circus, alongside the difficulties and hardships that its artists know. Thanks to the budget available, this director had access to the best CGI and there is virtually not a shred of reality in the film: everything was filmed in the studio, using green screens and other similar resources. Dumbo is all done in computer, and results in a harmonious union between the expressiveness seen in the original animation and the naturalness and realism that we can achieve through CGI. And if visually the film is extraordinary and really well executed, the rest is not far behind in quality. There are scenes that are virtually copied from the original film, and some of the most famous songs will also reappear ("Baby Mine", "Pink Elephants on Parade", etc.), in clear homages to the first film. The original soundtrack made for this film, signed by Danny Elfman, is very good and does an excellent job.

• 

  Andre Gonzales

  6 May 15, 2023

  Way better than the animation movie. Great for families. Dumbo is pretty cute I can't lie. Has a really good cast as well.

• 

  tmdb51616167

  6 Sep 2, 2024

  Both the original animated movie "Dumbo" from 1941 and the live-action remake from 2019 are praised for capturing the essence of the beloved characters and delivering compelling storylines. The animated film introduced audiences to memorable characters like Timothy Mouse, Mrs. Jumbo, and the crows, creating a timeless classic that resonated with viewers for generations. In the 2019 live-action adaptation, the essence of the original characters was retained while introducing a new twist with a circus theme and a focus on family dynamics. The film successfully brought the magic of the animated classic to life in a new way, appealing to audiences both familiar with the original and newcomers to the story. The well-written scripts of both the animated and live-action versions added credibility to the films and continued the legacy of the beloved tale of Dumbo. Audiences found enjoyment in both adaptations, appreciating the care taken to honor the source material while also bringing a fresh perspective to the narrative. However, criticism arose regarding the portrayal of the crows in the original animated movie, with some labeling them as racist stereotypes. This controversy led to calls for the cancellation of the film, which sparked discussions around the historical context of the characters and their depiction in the story. It is noted that understanding the historical significance of such characters is crucial, and dismissing them as racist without context can lead to misinterpretations and perpetuate harmful stereotypes. In conclusion, both the original animated "Dumbo" and its live-action remake are celebrated for their storytelling, character development, and ability to enchant audiences. While controversies surrounding certain characters highlight the need for nuanced discussions on representation and historical context, these adaptations continue to hold a special place in the hearts of fans and showcase the enduring magic of Dumbo's tale.