ESP’s film critic Gavin Miller is keeping an eye on the latest movies but for the time being, on the small screen instead…
The ‘eighth week of the coronavirus lockdown’ film of choice was this fantastic animation from the team behind Shrek, The Croods and How to Train Your Dragon – chosen by my six-year-old boy Joshua.
And it got ‘two big thumbs up’ from him, as he said two-thirds of the way through: ‘Daddy, I’m really enjoying this.’
And with his Dad as a film critic, he’s seen plenty of animations – and isn’t shy at letting me know if he hasn’t liked it.
But he loved this Chinese-based animation (which we viewed on Amazon Prime) due to the main ‘Yeti’ attraction, the colourful animation, enjoyable characters – and a plentiful supply of humorous interludes.
When a yeti escapes from a secure facility, he ends up on the roof of violin-playing teenager Yi’s (Chloe Bennet) home. She’s still mourning the death of her father and dreams of going to the places they never went too, so when she discovers the yeti – who indicates his home is Everest (which she then names him) from a nearby billboard – they set off on an adventure to get him back to his parents, while avoiding the helicopter search parties led by wealthy businessman Mr Burnish (Eddie Izzard), zoologist Dr Zara (Sarah Paulson), and their security team looking to recapture the creature.
Yi’s basketball friend Peng (Albert Tsai) and popular cousin Jin (Tenzing Norgay Trainor) – who definitely headlines the comedy elements with his ‘vain’ demeanour – inadvertently get dragged along for the ride, and the trio, along with Everest, start a magical journey to reunite the yeti with his family at the highest point on Earth.
And while Abominable doesn’t quite ‘move the needle’ like a Pixar animation can, this is still a visually stunning and sometimes moving little gem that really does tick all those family-friendly boxes – melting your heart like a snowman in the process.
Which in times like these isn’t a bad thing at all.
ESP Rating: 4/5
Gavin Miller
Cast: Chloe Bennet, Eddie Izzard, Albert Tsai, Tenzing Norgay Trainor, Michelle Wong, Tsai Chin & Sarah Paulson
Running Time: 1 Hr 37 Mins
Directors: Jill Culton & Todd Wilderman
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