“Strange World,” Disney’s latest sci-fi/fantasy film, is built upon a foundation of familiar elements. The story features a family of adventurers embarking on a mission to save the planet from an ecological crisis, an absent father, three generations of insecure male characters, and a group of underdeveloped female supporting characters with personalities that range from strong to loving. The film’s formulaic plot and emotional revelations borrow elements from films like “Avatar” and “Fantastic Voyage,” but it benefits from the exceptional talent of Disney’s animators, making it visually stunning on the big screen.
Co-directed by Don Hall and Qui Nguyen, who previously collaborated on “Raya and the Last Dragon,” “Strange World” showcases Nguyen’s solo writing byline, making it a notable debut feature for him. Hall, with a track record that includes Disney successes like “Moana,” “Big Hero 6,” and “Winnie the Pooh,” further contributes to the film’s appeal.
Compared to “Raya and the Last Dragon,” “Strange World” is a more comfortable and lower-stakes project for Hall and Nguyen. It appears that the co-directors draw inspiration from Disney’s ’90s animated classics, creating a film that genuinely reflects their combined talents rather than feeling focus-grouped to the extreme.
“Strange World” maintains a steady pace, compensating for its lack of dramatic tension. The story revolves around the stubborn explorer Jaeger Clade (Dennis Quaid), who abandons his insecure son, Searcher Clade (Jake Gyllenhaal). Searcher, in his quest to get his father’s attention, becomes fixated on a mysterious green plant named Pando. However, Jaeger dismisses both his son and Pando. Twenty-five years pass in an instant, and Searcher, now a hero in Avalonia, relies on Pando as the town’s primary power source. Searcher is now a Pando farmer, living a peaceful life with his wife Meridian (Gabrielle Union), their teenage son Ethan (Jaboukie Young-White), and their three-legged dog, Legend.
When Pando crops fail to produce the expected electrical charge, Callisto (Lucy Liu), an old friend of Jaeger’s, convinces Searcher to investigate. With his wife and son, Searcher embarks on a journey into a vast underground world, reminiscent of Pandora from “Avatar.” This mystical realm is filled with creatures, plants, and sentient fauna that resemble illustrations from old biology textbooks. In this vibrant, otherworldly setting, Searcher reunites with Jaeger, and their father-son dynamic is far from harmonious. Despite the potential for clichéd power struggles, the film wisely avoids falling into these tropes. Searcher’s parents are already aware of and accepting of their son’s identity, including his affection for a boy named Diazo. The film’s dialogue, while sentimental, manages to avoid feeling overly scripted or generic.
The animation and overall direction of “Strange World” are impressive, guiding the narrative through action and chase scenes. Among the strong ensemble voice cast, Quaid and Gyllenhaal stand out, but it is the animators who truly elevate the film. They infuse the screen with a lushly rendered surrealism reminiscent of illustrated paperback novels and matte paintings, filling each frame with magenta pterodactyls, pastel coral forests, and multi-colored tentacle grass oceans.
“Strange World” stands out as a kid-friendly animated film that doesn’t rely solely on groundbreaking ideas but excels through the careful execution of familiar concepts. This sets it apart from many recent Disney animated movies, making it an exceptional achievement in terms of execution rather than originality. In summary, “Strange World” is a worthwhile watch, and there are certainly worse choices for family entertainment.
Strange World Official Trailer: