The Wild Robot: Terrific and Touching in Equal Measure

There's a phenomenon I've observed among movie audiences that critics do not share, and this phenomenon is something I've come to call The Interstellar Effect. In short, this term refers to a trend I've come to notice among audience scores where a heavily emotional film can boost their score far higher than the film's actual merits deserve. I mean, I love Interstellar, but is it really worthy of a score of 4.9/5 on Google user reviews? With all of its cliches, pacing missteps, and oversentimentality? No, it's not, and so when I first saw the audience reviews for The Wild Robot, I was very skeptical, and though the likewise sky-high critical reviews did some to assuage that feeling, I couldn't shake the notion that this movie had fallen victim to The Interstellar Effect. Well, now I've finally gotten the chance to see it, I wanted to give my thoughts. So, is The Wild Robot worthy of the hype, or is it merely sentimental and emotional with the goal of paving over and hiding some of its flaws? Well, the movie's not perfect, but I am delightfully surprised to say that it is indeed really, really good. What's more, it did something that not many movies are able to do anymore - it hit me deep. This movie isn't only emotional, it's also emotionally intelligent, and best of all, it never lets its emotions stand in for a lack of smart writing and excellent technical aspects, both of which this movie possesses plenty of. It's the rare movie that works as an intellectual exercise, a fundamental exercise, and also as an emotional one, and it's a remarkable return to form for Dreamworks after the disappointment that was Kung Fu Panda 4.

The Wild Robot is a 2024 animated adventure film that follows a robot named Roz after she gets stranded on a mysterious island. Soon enough, Roz develops a bond with a newly hatched Gosling named Brightbill and must teach him to fly away from the island by fall.

After Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, I've come to consider Dreamworks a real force to be reckoned with as far as their visuals go, and The Wild Robot goes above and beyond in this department, giving us an utterly gorgeous and intensely artistically driven visual style that is probably one of my favorite animated environments I've ever seen alongside Moana and the Spiderverse movies. The Wild Robot is simply jaw-dropping to look at, and what's more, I've hung around people who animate on a regular basis enough to know that the animators working on this movie obviously had a lot of fun designing it's visuals. The movie never feels like it's bound by any kind of studio mandate, and is really a testament to the power of working with the intent to create a work of art rather than a piece of content.

Also, the ways in which The Wild Robot realizes it's world are just nothing short of remarkable. The imagination that went into this movie was legitimately mind-blowing, and the world that Dreamworks has created for us is truly beautiful and truly beautifully creative. As for the story of the film itself, it's strong, if definitely the weaker link of the piece. The opening sequences of The Wild Robot are a series of simple, if well-done scenarios. I wish that it had more narrative thrust, though I understand why the filmmakers went with this approach. Also, the third act introduces some antagonistic forces that it would have been better off leaving out of the story altogether, and this choice feels very much like something that was written after most of the script had been finished in a way that detracts from an otherwise stellar story. For what had come before it, the third act didn't really take all the wind out of the movie's sails, but it did slash them in some ways that disappointed me, as I was rooting for it all the way throughout. But that said, I cannot and will not undersell how effective and affecting The Wild Robot is, and I want to spend ample time talking about the many things I love about it.

I love the simple and well-stated goals this movie has. Roz needs to teach Brightbill the gosling to eat, swim, and fly by fall, in that order, giving us a set of goals and a deadline that they need to be done by. Good movies move, and once this goal has been established, it keeps the pacing of the movie moving forward in a way that's really satisfying and rarely stunted. Also, this movie's sense of time is really good, and we see some decorations on Roz's mantle in her little home that signify the growth of Brightbill in some smart and emotionally intelligent ways. The characterization on display here is likewise really strong, and when a character has an issue or doesn't feel like they fit in, you'll perfectly understand why and root for them to figure out their problems.

What's more, The Wild Robot is legitimately one of the most touching movies I have ever seen in my entire life. Its grasp of human reality and human emotions is just impeccable, and it legitimately melted my cold, cynical heart in ways I haven't seen since I started learning how to critique movies like a professional critic. I imagine this movie will strike a chord not only with kids, who will enjoy it for its gorgeous animation, but also and even more so with parents because of its focus on the joys and difficulties of raising a child.

All in all, I feel a little bad detracting points from this movie for mandating some unneeded third-act action sequences, because Good Lord, I don't think there's many movies out there that have touched my soul and almost brought me to tears in the ways that The Wild Robot did - so much so that I would say that it's easily among my top five animated movies I've ever seen. It works on every level - visual, narrative, and emotional. It made me ponder things and ideas that are near and dear to my heart in some really profound ways, asking some really hard questions without ever sacrificing narrative integrity to do so. It's certainly up there among the greatest animated movies I've ever seen, and yet another smash-hit home run from Dreamworks that makes me excited to see what the studio does next. As for you, dear reader, if you're young, I can say that this movie will certainly capture your imagination in exciting and fresh ways, but if you're a parent, I would dare say that The Wild Robot will be even more special to you than it will be to your children. Hold them close while they're still in your home. Treasure every moment, because one day, you'll have to let them go so that they can fly for themselves, so that they start their own families, and so that you can then really understand just how much you truly loved them in the first place.

The Wild Robot - 9/10

Deuteronomy 11:18-21