If you’re at all apt to weep in movies, bring your hankie, but don’t expect a big tear fest. True to its name, this is an upbeat story and enjoyable. Boo on the continued limited presence of female characters. One strong female character, but she dies before the story gets started, and then gets her homemaker status converted into being embodied as a flying house. The other female character is given a masculine name in story as a “natural” default, and then is regendered when it’s discovered that there are immature progeny involved. Because fathers can’t parent, even in an essentially unknown species? Double bah humbug!
On the other hand, the little boy is clearly not caucasian and it’s never even mentioned. And even though the kid is overweight, there’s only one minor bit of fat humor when he’s unable to climb up a rope. But later in the movie he’s able to accomplish that same task. Still, Pixar needs to work a little harder. Maybe a lot harder.
And is it just me, or were those talking dogs inspired by Olaf Stapledon?