It’s a great week for going to the movies during Thanksgiving week. The kids are off school, it’s generally cold outside, and with new titles hitting theaters on Wednesday, it’s a great excuse to sneak away for a couple of hours before any holiday festivities begin. Disney’s got a handful of Future animated moviesIn the works, and the next movie to hit the big screen is in the making Strange WorldThe story of the Clade family is the story of a group of farmers who embark on a mission in order to save Avalonia. We have received reviews to help us make a decision about whether or not we will be able to fit this sci-fi adventure in our holiday weeks.
Strange WorldStars Jake Gyllenhaal as Dennis Quaid, Jaboukie Youth-White, Gabrielle Union and Jaboukie Young White as the Clades. The trailer promises a trippy adventure and a dazzling soundtrack. New Disney dog for you to love. It sounds like we’re off to a strong start, so let’s see if the critics agree, starting with CinemaBlend’s review of Strange World. Sarah El-Mahmoud, our own Sarah El-Mahmoud, gives the movie 3.5 stars. She says there were some missed opportunities in the script but that overall the multigenerational storyline was affecting. She said:
It can be cliché at times, and its inspiration from Journey to the Center of the Earth is unmistakable, but Disney once again knows how to put their own stamp on a treasured tale with oozes of charm.
Carlos Aguilar of The Wrap agrees with CinemaBlend’s critic that the movie is heavy-handed in its message about fathers and sons, and how a parent’s expectations can become an unfair burden on their children. In the critic’s words:
This new feature, from Don Hall and Qui Nguyen, is notable for its stunningly imaginative visuals. It lacks restraint in communicating its themes, which are evident from the opening sequence. Comparable Disney animated productions such as Atlantis and Treasure Planet didn’t rely so bluntly on dialogue to express their similar messaging, both about how to interact ethically with cultures or places foreign to us and the perils of father-son dynamics.
Petrana Radulovic PolygonThe adventure story is too closely tied to the family dynamics plot. The family story is a good idea to see in another movie but it weakens the main story.
Strange World is Disney’s latest big gamble: a weird movie inspired by pulp magazines and retro science fiction. Directed by Don Hall and Qui Nguyen, who previously worked together on Raya and the Last Dragon, this new Disney movie is an absolutely gorgeous genre fest that gets bogged down by cliché family drama. There are two sides to this story: one is a fantastically cool sci-fi adventure, the other is a family tale that boils down mostly to ‘this dream isn’t mine, Dad — it’s yours.’
Josh Spiegel of SlashFilmSays Strange WorldThe artistry of the film lives up its name, with vibrant pacing and trippy visuals. However, it has a questionable marketing plan. The critic states:
Strange World is unquestionably not a standard-issue Disney film — there are no musical aspects, there’s no princess or royalty involved, and its literary forebears are classic adventure yarns. It feels as though Disney is putting Strange World in theaters without any thought. It’s a shame too, because while Strange World lacks meme-worthy songs such as Encanto, its imagery and adventurous spirit are memorable and unique. This is exactly the type of thing Disney should do more often.
Peter Debruge VarietyThis movie is not creatively original and it fails to be imaginative in its story. According to this review, this movie sounds worth the effort.
Strange World’s world may seem super-weird but the people who live there are some of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ most well-rounded and realist characters. Ergo, it’s the characters as much as the environment that make this vibrant, Journey to the Center of the Earth-style adventure movie colorful and diverse in all the best ways.
The critics all mention and seem to appreciate how the movie handles Disney animation’s first openly gay lead, Ethan (Jaboukie Young-White), in which there is no fanfare or coming-out moment, but rather, simply acceptance.
If you’d like to check out Strange WorldThis is possible in theatres starting Wednesday, November 23. You can also find out what the other affiches are. Disney movies are coming soonYou can also take a peek at the new year through our 2023 Movie Release Calendar.