LUCA – “A summertime charmer for the whole family”

BUILDING A FRIENDSHIP – Jacob Tremblay and Jack Dylan Grazer lend their voices to Luca and Alberto—two sea monsters who look human when they’re out of the water. The two spark a friendship one special summer in an Italian seaside town – a bond quickly deepened by a mutual love of Vespa scooters and the freedom and adventure they represent (even when they’re homemade). Directed by Academy Award® nominee Enrico Casarosa (“La Luna”) and produced by Andrea Warren (“Lava,” “Cars 3”), “Luca” opens on June 18, 2021. © 2021 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

RATING

DIRECTOR

Enrico Casarosa (Feature directorial debut)

STARRING

  • Jacob Tremblay as Luca Paguro
  • Jack Dylan Grazer as Alberto Scorfano
  • Emma Berman as Giulia Marcovaldo
  • Marco Barricelli as Massimo Marcovaldo
  • Saverio Raimondo as Ercole Visconti
  • Maya Rudolph as Daniela Paguro,
  • Jim Gaffigan as Lorenzo Paguro
  • Giacomo Gianniotti as Giacomo,
  • Marina Massironi as Mrs. Marsigliese
  • Sacha Baron Cohen as Uncle Ugo

SYNOPSIS

One young boy experiences an unforgettable summer filled with gelato, pasta and endless scooter rides. Luca shares these adventures with his newfound best friend, but all the fun is threatened by a deeply-held secret: he is a sea monster from another world just below the water's surface.

REVIEW SUMMARY

Exquisito! Pixar’s Luca is nothing short of a summertime charmer for the whole family. The computer animated movie, set on the Italian Riviera of the late 50’s and 60’s, is just plain fun. Yes, the story arc is 100% fairy-tale familiar (as are the lessons around acceptance), but it’s the playful adventures that take place along the way that make it swim and not sink. In fact, it’s one big love letter to those soul-shaping summers of one’s youth. It’s a cornucopia of coming-of-age discoveries, a journey of new friendships, and a celebration of the curious spirit. But, when compared to Pixar’s other entries over the past nearly 4 decades, Luca unfortunately doesn’t stack up quite as high. You see, it’s just not as profound or emotionally stirring as the majority of the animation studio’s stellar catalogue. That’s not to say there’s no depth to the characters or story at hand, just that the commonplace themes don’t connect as well as they could (or have). It’s all played a little too safe. Luckily, the sun-kissed Italian setting makes for a delightfully original cultural backdrop. There’s clearly a lot of homages being played here, all done with tender love and care of course. So, like a hearty bowl of pasta followed by a tasty gelato treat, Luca equates to some good ‘ol fashion feel-good comfort food!  

BOX OFFICE TOP 5

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