Film Review: Pete’s Dragon (Disney) starring Robert Redford out on 12 August 2016

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Published on Wednesday, 27 July 2016 17:05

Last Updated on 27 July 2016

Monica Costa

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A live action movie re-imagining of Disney’s cherished family film, Pete’s Dragon is the adventure of an orphaned boy named Pete and his best friend Elliott, who just so happens to be a dragon. Disney for me is a guarantee of quality storytelling and film making. This movie is a real treat for fans of the original film while capturing the interest of the younger generation with great special effects, in the same way Jon Favreau has brought back The Jungle Book in an already iconic new version of the film. Pete’s Dragon out in UK cinemas on 12 August is the perfect Summer time activity to keep your kids (and yourselves!) entertained. Trust me when I say that it’s a beautiful, heartwarming film about friendship, embracing the outdoors and of course, family. A perfect option to keep the kids entertained during rainy days and get their imaginations soaring!

The story

For years, old wood carver Mr. Meacham (Robert Redford) has delighted local children with his tales of the fierce dragon that resides deep in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. To his daughter, Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard), who works as a forest ranger, these stories are little more than tall tales…until she meets Pete (Oakes Fegley). Pete is a mysterious 10-year-old with no family and no home who claims to live in the woods with a giant, green dragon named Elliott. And from Pete’s descriptions, Elliott seems remarkably similar to the dragon from Mr. Meacham’s stories. With the help of Natalie (Oona Laurence), an 11-year-old girl whose father Jack (Wes Bentley) owns the local lumber mill, Grace sets out to determine where Pete came from, where he belongs, and the truth about this dragon.

 

The cast

Pete’s Dragon stars Bryce Dallas Howard (“Jurassic World”), Oakes Fegley (“This is Where I Leave You”), Wes Bentley (“The Hunger Games”), Karl Urban (“Star Trek”), Oona Laurence (“Southpaw”) and Oscar® winner Robert Redford (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier”). The film, which is directed by David Lowery (“Ain’t Them Bodies Saints”), is written by Lowery & Toby Halbrooks based on a story by Seton I. Miller and S.S. Field and produced by Jim Whitaker, p.g.a. (“The Finest Hours,” “Friday Night Lights”), with Barrie M. Osborne (“The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,” “The Great Gatsby”) serving as executive producer.

 

The trailer

The verdict

Watching Pete’s Dragon has been a very emotional ride for me. I felt totally embarrassed weeping throughout the movie. My friend told me off a couple of time and the children mocked me for that. So I wondered why it had such an effect on me. It’s not that the film is sad or anything like that. It simply touched so many chords for me personally: the orphan being raised by Elliot the dragon with puppy eyes (who could camuflage himself and become invisible), the beautiful friendship between the boy and the gigantic magical animal and the family bond that Pete finds in the end in his elective human family. Pete’s story appeals to me at so many levels and takes me back to my own personal journey through life. When a film manages to make me so sentimental, I consider it a superb film and this is what Pete’s Dragon has done to me. 

 

London Mums’ rating: 10/10

I know I am ridiculously generous but the more tears I shed during a film the higher is my rating. Go and see it and judge by yourself. It certainly is a very watchable film and you may even find it as beautiful as I have.

Kids Club rating: 7/10

Pete’s Dragon flies into UK cinemas on 12 August, 2016.