Walt Disney Animation has returned with the new film “Strange World” which
combines classic Disney animation with a nostalgic Pulp Comics of old
adventure tale.
Set in an isolated community surrounded by impassable mountains, legendary
explorer Jaeger Clade (Dennis Quaid) and his son Searcher (Jake
Gyllenhaal), seek to find a way over the mountains to see what is beyond
them.
The journey divides father and son as Searcher does not want to be his
father and insists that the discovery of a glowing green plant is more
important and watches his father depart into the snow.
Twenty five years later finds Searcher a successful and married father and
his plant discovery has produced a natural and clean source of power which
fuels their entire community.
When the plant is threatened by an infection, a team of people recruit
searcher to literally get to the root of the issue and he reluctantly
agrees with his son Ethan (Jaboukie Young-White) and wife Meridian
(Gabrielle Union) along for the trip.
Things go horribly wrong and the group finds themselves in a strange
underground world with all manner of creatures and bizarre items and they
must solve internal and external conflicts to save the day.
The animation and setup for the film are great but it does drag at various
points and becomes a tad formulaic and predictable. The great cast and
animation do make it a trip worth taking and one can hope that more
adventures for the Jaeger clan are ahead.
3.5 stars out of 5
