“The Wild Robot” Review
"The Wild Robot" stars Lupita Nyong'o as a robot tasked with the care of a gosling in this latest animated film from Dreamworks Animation.
After directing “The Call of the Wild”, a 2020 live-action adaptation of the Jack London book, Chris Sanders has returned to animation with “The Wild Robot”. Having already made a large impact on the form through his films “Lilo and Stitch”, “The Croods” and “How to Train Your Dragon”, this was certainly a welcome reprise. With “The Wild Robot”, Sanders has tapped into the same kind of wonder and imagination that made him popular to begin with. With excellent animation and a truly heartfelt story, this technology meets nature story is enough to entice all ages.
Set in a futuristic Earth where robots have become essential parts of life, a ROZZUM Unit 7134 robot, also known as Roz (Lupita Nyong’o), is washed onto a forest island following a massive storm. Activated but without a master to give commands, Roz searches for a task to fulfill and struggles to adapt to the hostile environment. After understanding the language of the animals, Roz befriends a fox named Fink (Pedro Pascal) and becomes the caretaker of a gosling she dubs Brightbill (Kit Connor). With her primary task now to raise Brightbill so he can migrate for winter, Roz must accommodate this challenge by tapping into ideas and feelings that she didn’t even know robots could be capable of.
Right from the get go, the film places you in this world by showing the robot on the island with very little explanation of how Roz got there. Would an explanation have even helped? We quickly understand how harsh life on the island can be and the fragility of life with the filmmakers not shying away from reality. “The Wild Robot” isn’t afraid to get aggressive with its setting and to have some darker humor that would appeal more to adult viewers as opposed to children. However, this underlying dark current makes all the heartwarming moments all the more powerful. In spite of the laws of nature, Roz makes it her mission to care for a gosling that is the runt of its litter and that central relationship is fascinating to see develop.
As Roz, Lupita Nyong’o delivers an excellent performance with this robotic cadence that still manages to have personality. Since Roz is exploring how much of her programming she should keep and how much she should rewrite to better serve the environment, it really shines through with Nyong’o’s delivery. Through this character’s digital eyes, she is able to look upon this world she was never prepared for and, since she is ignorant of the forest, she’s not only able to adapt but she also questions what the animals don’t. Among her unorthodox methods is raising Brightbill alongside a fox that would normally try to eat helpless creatures like Brightbill. But not only does Fink benefit heavily from Roz’s protection but they form a strong friendship that does leave a beautiful impact upon the audience.
The entire voice cast of animals (including the likes of Catherine O’Hara, Mark Hamill and Bill Nighy) is quite strong as you feel their basic instinct for survival that is upended by the presence of Roz. Throughout “The Wild Robot”, there’s a captivating display of nature and technology coexisting and how certain practices can give way to new ideas while others are firmly aligned within the fabric of all things, animal and machine alike. With Roz, the film constantly blurs the line between her programming and the emotions that are starting to develop within her that feel human. Through the exploration of these ideas, the relationships that Roz develops are engrossing to the point that you feel this bizarre yet familiar sense of community start to form.
Paired with outstanding animation, the rustic environment comes to live with dazzling colors and textures that bring the energy of every season to you. When scenes are set in winter, you feel that cold. When they’re in summer, it’s full of vibrancy. The way this film is crafted can make scenes of high-flying (literally) action seem so visceral but “The Wild Robot” also knows just when to slow down and let these characters sit within a moment.
“The Wild Robot” is one of those family films that seems like a strong fit for all ages. It has all of the imagination, color, comedy and likable that a lot of children will be searching for but there is a maturity to the film that will resonate with older audiences. Some children’s films are there just to entertain a very young audience with little to offer their parents. “The Wild Robot” is definitely not one of those films. Whether you’re four, fourteen or forty, I guarantee you’ll want to keep revisiting this story.
