{"id":423,"date":"2019-04-01T23:38:22","date_gmt":"2019-04-01T23:38:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.granitecitynow.com\/?p=423"},"modified":"2019-04-01T23:38:22","modified_gmt":"2019-04-01T23:38:22","slug":"dumbo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blog.granitecitynow.com\/?p=423","title":{"rendered":"Dumbo"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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It has been a long, long time since I last saw the 1941 original \u201cDumbo,\u201d so there\u2019s very little about it that I remember \u2013 y\u2019know, aside from the obvious \u201ccute baby elephant with piercing blue eyes and ears big enough to pick up free HBO.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what\u2019s not to love about the idea of a live-action version,\ndirected by Tim Burton and co-starring a villainous Michael Keaton, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This new \u201cDumbo\u201d drops us into Sarasota, Florida, circa 1919 and\nthe financially strapped Medici Brothers\u2019 Circus (psst\u2026 keep an eye on that\nsign).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Holt Farrier (Colin Farrell), the lead of former stand-out act The Stallion Stars, returns from war, no longer able to do the thing that sells the tickets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s obvious that the show is struggling: \u201cWe\u2019re all wearing\nmultiple hats.\u201d But Master of Ceremonies Max Medici (Danny DeVito) has his\nhopes and livelihood invested in an Asian female elephant, and \u201c\u2026 she\u2019s havin\u2019\na baby!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But when that baby\u2019s freakishly large ears appear to be a hiccup\nHolt\u2019s children \u2013 science whiz Milly (Nico Parker) and the always curious Joe\n(Finley Hobbins) \u2013 accidentally discover otherwise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you thought the title character from the animated original\nwas adorable (and who didn\u2019t?!), wait\u2019ll you see the star of this show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heart. Melt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a lot to like about the new \u201cDumbo,\u201d but it wasn\u2019t the\nemotional force I really was hoping for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t get me wrong; Dumbo is precious, and his cuteness is what\nsaves this film. His big, eager eyes and affinity for plumage is worth the\nprice of admission for sure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The story is fine, though my husband was upset at the omission\nof some memorable events from the original.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The acting is engaging, and Keaton\u2019s bad guy is both comical (\u201cIs\nthat a monkey in your desk?\u201d) and dastardly, safe enough to not scare the young\n\u2018uns but smarmy to the point that you understand his intentions. And if you\ndon\u2019t, the shadows in which his likeness is cast will no doubt spell it out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are plenty of harrowing moments as well as scenes that\nwill give a little tug at your heartstrings, make you chuckle and keep you\ninvested; there\u2019s the occasional (trippy) nod to the original, and a tip of the\nhat to Busby Berkeley musicals; those shots from Dumbo\u2019s perspective take us\nfor a ride and offer a lovely flying elephant\u2019s eye view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, if you have any interest in this little pachyderm\u2019s\nlive-action adventure with its seamless and often dazzling effects, it\u2019s worth\ninvesting your time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s cute, it\u2019s very<\/em>\npretty, and it\u2019s enjoyable. And in this case, that\u2019s enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDumbo\u201d likely won\u2019t leave you bawling your eyes out, but maybe\nthat\u2019s a good thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You have just enjoyed the insights of Movie Addict Mel, a cinema dork and conversational writer. Follow her on Twitter\u00a0@movieaddictmel<\/a>, and \u201clike\u201d her Facebook page\u00a0www.facebook.com\/movieaddictmel<\/a><\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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