Arco
review by Bobby Blakey
I love animation of all kinds and some of them have delivered the most emotional and powerful stories. The latest Arco coming out of France has already been nominated for numerous awards including scoring an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature. The English dub features the voice work of Romy Fay, Juliano Valdi, Natalie Portman, Mark Ruffalo, Will Ferrell, Andy Samberg, Flea and America Ferrera from director Ugo Bienvenu. Could this film bring the dazzling beauty and story it promises, or will it get lost in time?
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Arco follows a dazzling adventure about a 10-year-old boy from a peaceful, distant future who accidentally travels back to the year 2075 and discovers a world in peril. As Arco develops a charming and touching friendship with a young girl named Iris, they band together and along with her trusted robot caretaker Mikki, set out on a quest to get Arco home, while the two children may also be the only ones who can save our planet.
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I must admit that I wasn’t overly interested in this film from the original trailer. Not sure what I was expecting but the tone and story was a nice surprise as we are taken on this journey in time and adventure. There is a simple set up that doesn’t explain everything nor does it need to. It dives right into this time they live in allowing the visuals around them to build the world we are inhabiting without force explaining everything. It is a beautiful place that is filled with love and hope making what is to come more impactful.
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The animation is gorgeous, filled with bright vibrant visuals and details that truly enhance the story around it. It weaves into multiple genres to bring so many great details to elevate what could be a simple world. The adventures in the past reminded me of E.T. in a lot of ways and manages to capture similar magic in its
own voice. There are some pacing issues here and there where it drags, but it keeps it moving as it gives us time to really expand on the relationship of Arco and Iris.
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It didn’t hit every mark I was hoping to pull me fully in, but that was more my own personal experience. It does get to that satisfactory conclusion that makes the whole experience worth it. Those fans of animated features similar to that of the Studio Ghibli films will no doubt enjoy this one and hope it finds the audience it deserves.
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Decide for yourself and check out Arco in theaters now from NEON.