"Luca" (2021) | Sam Gall Movie Review Issue #129 Gem Mint 10.0
“Luca" (2021)
Director: Enrico Casarosa
Writer: Enrico Casarosa, Jesse Andrews, Mike Jones, Julie Lynn, Randall Green
Starring: Jacob Tremblay, Jack Dylan Grazer, Emma Berman, Saverio Raimondo, Maya Rudolph, Marco Barricelli, Jim Gaffigan, Peter Sohn, Lorenzo Crisci, Marina Massironi, Sandy Martin, Sacha Baron Cohen
Rated: PG for rude humor, language, some thematic elements and brief violence
Runtime: 1h 35min
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Country: United States
Language: English | Italian
Available on: Disney+
"On the Italian Riviera, an unlikely but strong friendship grows between a human being and a sea monster disguised as a human."
You might like this if you like: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Pixar, Disney, the ocean, Italy, Jacob Tremblay, Jack Dylan Grazer, Emma Berman, Saverio Raimondo, Maya Rudolph, Marco Barricelli, Jim Gaffigan, Peter Sohn, Lorenzo Crisci, Marina Massironi, Sandy Martin, Sacha Baron Cohen
Jack Dylan Grazer (left) & Jacob Tremblay (right) in "Luca" (2021)
I didn’t really know much going into this one. So glad I didn’t! It's beautiful little film that caught me in ways I didn’t expect! I certainly related immediately to Luca, feeling enticed by the taboo of things made out by your parents, finding your own family, and seeing the world for yourself.
Gorgeous animation, I love seeing anything water and the world that they created was just a treat to watch. I loved the all the bug-eyed animals! Especially as I couldn’t help but think of “Finding Nemo” (2003) the whole time, it was a nice fresh take on a Pixar seagull.
Emma Berman in "Luca" (2021)
The powerful theme of being an outsider, whether you want to take it as racism or LGBTQIA+ themes, I’ve heard people take it as both, was really profound to see in a kids movie. I’m not saying that’s never been done before in a kids movie, I just love that every generation gets a version of that story and this one really hit it home for me.
Letting go of the things you love was another tough theme for me to swallow. I think that’s always been the hardest thing for me to do and seeing kids that young do what I feel I can’t sometimes was really moving to me. I still think about that ending to this day.
Marco Barricelli in "Luca" (2021)
I didn’t know any of the cast going in, that’s one of my favorite things about watching animation is that I can get more lost in the story and not be distracted by familiar faces like actor I know. I think I recognized Jim Gaffigan’s voice, but the best moment was when I heard ‘Uncle Ugo’’s voice and thought, “That sounds exactly like ‘Borat’, and sure enough, when I looked at the credits… Sacha Baron Cohen had actually graced our lovely ears with his beautiful voice!
I really do love Jacob Tremblay (‘Room’ 2015 & ‘Good Boys’ 2019) and Jack Dylan Grazer (‘It’ 2017 & ‘Shazam’ 2019) and was pleased to find out later that it was them as ‘Luca’ and ‘Alberto’.
Jack Dylan Grazer (left) & Jacob Tremblay (right) in "Luca" (2021)
Giulia's father in the film, was maybe my favorite character! The pasta that one-armed man made looked absolutely delicious! I had to make some immediately after watching this...
Emma Berman (left), Jacob Tremblay (middle) & Jack Dylan Grazer (right) in "Luca" (2021)
Pretty riveting film for being aimed at a younger audience! Really is a powerful human story for all! May or may not have cried my eyes out! Thank you to Enrico Casarosa and team for this magical little world you created!
Written by Sam Gall on 08/02/21
CGC Grading: Gem Mint 10.0
"Pixar ditches the grandiloquence of 'Soul' and draws a wonderful straight line to the hearts of the audience." - Víctor López G., Espinof
"... Luca is a beautiful, hopeful, and surprisingly deep exploration of change which utilizes the metaphor of physical metamorphosis to explore the philosophical in a tale accessible for the young and young at heart." - Douglas Davidson, Elements of Madness
"The old "fish out of water" concept takes hold in "Luca," a charming coming-of-age story that uses animation to its fullest." - Bruce R. Miller, Sioux City Journal
"A movie about walls coming down and boundaries fading away, with a real sense of limitless potential that will charm young viewers and evoke misty nostalgia in adults." - Tom Beasley, Flickering Myth
"A magical fable about the power of friendship and allyship needed to build a more inclusive and empathetic world" - Rene Sanchez, Cine Sin Fronteras
Official Trailer:
Behind the Scenes:
#Luca #DisneyPlus #LucaMovie #Animation #Pixar #JacobTremblay #JackDylanGrazer #EnricoCasarosa