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Saturday, April 20, 2024
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HOLLYWOOD FERDINAND (3D)
EDITOR'S PICK
'Ferdinand': Bulldozes into your heart (Review By Troy Ribeiro
; Rating: ***1/2)
Director Carlos Saldanha's latest animated film "Ferdinand", adapted from Munro
Leaf and Robert Lawson's children's book "The Story of Ferdinand", is culturally
less engaging than Pixar's "Coco" which released last month. Nevertheless, it is
a warm, compassionate and a vibrant film that tells little kids how to deal with
bullying.
It is the tale of Ferdinand (John Cena), a flower-loving Spanish bull who simply
refuses to fight. Living in Casa de Toro, a ranch with his father where it is a
matter of prestige for the Bulls to participate in Bull fights in Madrid. Right
from the start, young calves are advised to "fight for the glory of your
dreams". And like their parents, most of them dream of becoming fighters.
While the aggressive ones bully the weaker lot, Ferdinand being nonchalant
prefers to enjoy nursing flowers. So, after realising that his father will not
be returning to the ranch after losing a bull fight, young and docile Ferdinand
escapes from the ranch and grows up as a pet on a peaceful farm belonging to
Juan (Singer Juanes) and his daughter Nina (Lily Day).
But with the passage of time, as he matures, he grows so huge that when he goes
to town for the festival of flowers, everybody assumes he is aggressive. So, he
is captured and returned to Casa de Toro. And when the country's top matador El
Primero comes to choose the best bull for his next fight, it is obvious,
Ferdinand is selected. How he wins hearts at the arena, forms the crux of the
tale.
The plot is simple and taut. While sticking to the bookends of the original
story, it deviates in the second act to offer some meaningful messages along
with wholesome entertainment for its young viewers. You are kept glued to the
screen with vibrant action sequences like Ferdinand's escape or the train chase
scene.
There is also a gleeful scene involving dancing horses and the inevitable bull
in a china shop gag. But what stands out is the life lessons that the tale
offers.
Some of the characters in the tale are stereotypical, but they stand out because
of the voices lent by the ace star cast, who synchronize their voices aptly with
the characters and their moods. Prominent among the lot are; Kate McKinnon as
the calming goat Lupe, Bobby Cannavale as the bully Valiente, David Tennant as
the blonde bull Angus, Miguel Angel Silvestre as the fading matador El Primero,
Gina Rodrigues, Daveed Diggs and Gabriel Iglesias as the hedgehogs Una, Dos and
Cuatros.
Visually, the film is attractive and pulsating with colours and action. The 3D
animation is picture perfect. The viewing experience is elevated because of the
soundtrack which includes three original songs.
Overall, the film will appeal to kids and adults alike. It is engaging and
entertaining at the same time.
