"Pete's Dragon" Review

Title: Pete's Dragon

Directed by: David Lowery

Written by: David Lowery, Toby Halbrooks, and Malcolm Marmorstein

Year: 2016


The original Pete's Dragon from 1977 is not a Disney film I am very familiar with. I saw it once when I was very young and remember almost nothing about it. However, the trailers for this remake have been really intriguing. The story seems widely different and the visual effects look promising. Is this a fiery remake, or will it disappear into obscurity?

After a car accident that killed both his parents, Pete finds himself stranded in the middle of the forest. There, he encounters a dragon, and the two become close friends. A few years later, Pete is discovered, and his existence prompts some to hunt down the dragon.

The amount of acting talent involved in this movie is rather surprising. First up, there is Bryce Dallas Howard, a forest ranger who wants to protect everything in the wilderness. She has a very endearing and warm presence that instantly makes her character likable. Robert Redford has such a welcoming and innocent presence in this film. He makes for a wonderful storyteller and wins the audience over. Wes Bentley is not terribly impressive, but he gets the job done fine. Karl Urban is that villain you like to hate. Urban's charisma slightly overcomes the fact that he plays a very one-note character. In fact, just about all of the characters are very flat. They are not bad characters, but there is no depth to be found. What you see is what you get.

But major credit goes toward the child actors. Oakes Fegley plays the titular Pete and he is a joy to watch. He actually does not speak much in the first two acts, but he manages to get the emotions across with facial expressions alone, which is a lot to ask for from a child. As great as Fegley is, it is Oona Laurence that really struck me. Her character is arguably the most interesting, and the young actress is able to make the dialogue flow naturally. Now about Elliot, the dragon. He is a fantastic realization. You completely buy his relationship with Pete, which is spectacular to watch. Treated a bit like a dog, Elliot is a wonderful character with whom you will end up falling in love.

I mentioned earlier how the characters are simple and not very fleshed-out. The same goes for the story. It is incredibly streamlined. Once more, this is not a bad thing, and in some cases, can actually make a film more enjoyable. The tale is easy to go along with and the simplistic nature of it all is very refreshing. What is unfortunate about the story is how predictable it is. You can tell what is going to happen a scene or two ahead of time and the third act is very telegraphed. As a result, Pete's Dragon does not offer many surprises. What it offers instead is emotion.

The first two minutes, though containing several cringeworthy lines, pack a poignant punch; Disney just loves offing the parents. The entire second act works purely on pathos, and it succeeds triumphantly. Redford's character says something in the film about feeling a sense of magic upon looking at Elliot. I believe that phrase stands true for the majority of this picture. There is a magic and a charm that transcends the silver screen. It cannot be explained. The characters and the plot are basic, and yet the emotions emitted from this film are marvelous.

The first 20 minutes of this movie are a bit slow. Much like The BFG, most of the first part of the movie is spent showing the bond between Pete and Elliot. However, I feel it worked better in The BFG because we were able to see the friendship grow. In Pete's Dragon, we see the two meet, and then the film jumps ahead six years and shows them as best friends. I feel that the movie could have benefitted from showing Pete and Elliot getting to know each other. If so, the audience would have been along for the ride and the friendship would have resonated stronger with the viewer. Once the other humans are introduced, however, the pacing really picks up.

As I hinted at earlier, the second act of this movie is phenomenal. It is entirely captivating and evokes a tremendous sense of wonder and fantasy. Just watching the characters interact and tell each other stories is heartwarming. What also helps is the fact that this film operates on a large scale but a small scope. The forest is huge, the dragon is massive, and a lot of the cinematography is filmed from low angles. But this entire story takes place in a small, quiet town, giving the picture a rural and natural air. The movie actually feels like a folk tale, which is not something I can say for any other film I have seen.

The visual effects for Elliot are stunning. I was initially dismissive of his furry appearance. But it has grown on me and I now love it. He is animated exceptionally well and the way his invisibility is utilized is very cool. The other creatures of the forest however are not quite on par with Elliot. There is a deer at the very beginning that looks very super imposed. Also, a bear that threatens Elliot looks very awkward, especially in the facial area.

As for the music, I thought it was perfectly suitable for the tone of the film. The use of folk songs and calm singing is very fitting and the violin pieces are extraordinary. A little research upon returning home revealed the reason; Lindsey Stirling is behind the violin. Stirling is a magnificent musician and having her help score this movie was a brilliant move. The songs progressively grow on you and the violin-work is outstanding.

Pete's Dragon is an utterly charming motion picture. The characters, though simplistic, are easy to latch on to; the cast is rock solid; the basic story mainly works to the film's benefit; the second act is breathtaking; Elliot is a superb highlight; and the music is terrific. As far as negatives go, the story can be predictable; the villain is shallow; not all of the CGI fits; and the pacing tends to waver at the beginning and the end. But the most amazing thing about this movie is how it hits you emotionally. Pete's Dragon is very similar to The BFG, though I would give the edge to this film. If The BFG disappointed you, then this might be the picture you are looking for. This is a very endearing movie that I recommend you watch and enjoy.

Grade: B+