Strange World
review by Bobby Blakey
Love them or hate them there is no denying that Disney continues to churn out some of the best and most creative in animation. Their latest film Strange World looks to continue that trend with an original action-adventure feature. The film features a great voice cast including Jake Gyllenhaal, Dennis Quaid, Jaboukie Young-White, Gabrielle Union, Lucy Liu and Alan Tudyk from Big Hero 6 and Raya and the Last Dragon director Don Hall. Could this latest journey be as strange as it appears or will it too far out of this world to connect with?
Strange World follows Searcher Clade, the son of a steadfast explorer who journeys deep into an uncharted and treacherous land where fantastical creatures await the legendary Clades, a family of explorers whose differences threaten to topple their latest, and by far, most crucial mission.
I have been looking forward to this since I saw the first poster. The promotions using and old school science fiction vibe sucked me right in. It comes as no surprise that Disney has another great film on their hands, but I have to say that this might be one of my favorite visual animated treats in some time.
The story is pretty simple to set up this world we are dealing with, but as it unfolds you will find that this is a story with multiple layers focusing on loss, redemption, finding yourself, biology and so much more. At the heart of this adventure is really the strained relationship and expected legacies between fathers and sons. I love the direction they took with this and it is more layered than you might think in its crafting and those involved.
On the other side of it is this fantastical place they live in that is not even the strange world part of it. There is a vibe and look to it all that showcases the future as well as the past all fused into a unique vision that make you feel like you are in someplace new while still bringing a small town feel. Once the story takes us into this new world it is easily one of the most beautiful and creative animated features to come along in some time. I am aware of all the wild things that have been done, but the attention to detail of creating such a fun, dangerous and beautiful world makes it stand out. It is a visual treat to the senses with a color palate that brings joy even in the heavier moments.
I think this film alone would be worth it just to see this world come to life and all the fun life that inhabits it, but it’s a heartfelt and exciting adventure that is sure to entertain from start to finish. Sure there are cliché elements and it’s not overly hard to figure out where it’s going, but it is just so fun to experience that it still felt like something new and familiar all at once.
I really enjoyed this film, it's a fun adventure that is worth seeing. In addition to the film this release offers up bonus content including outtakes, deleted scenes, numerous featurettes and more. Venture into a new world when Strange World available now on digital and then on 4K, Blu-ray and DVD on February 14, 2023 from Disney Home Entertainment.
