“Dumbo” (PG)
You will believe an elephant can fly – and capture our hearts once again – with “Dumbo,” director Tim Burton’s emotional and exhilarating live-action reimaging of the 1941 Disney animated film classic. Using the conclusion of the animated film as a springboard for this new tale, “Dumbo” expands the storyline to imagine from a human point-of-view what takes place after the large-eared baby elephant takes flight and triumphs over those who ostracized him, only to encounter those who want to exploit his unique gift.
“Dumbo” begins in 1919, recalling the events just before the conclusion of the animated film where an over-sized pachyderm shows an amazing ability to fly. It’s a particularly startling occurrence, because in the real-world setting in which this live-action “Dumbo” exists, the animals don’t talk and Timothy Q. Mouse is, well, just a mouse. As such, Dumbo, as the baby elephant comes to be dubbed, is born into the circus run by Max Medici’s (Danny DeVito), and he’s put in the care of Holt Farrier (Colin Farrell), a World War I solider who returns at the conclusion of the battle missing an arm and a widow, since his fellow circus performer wife died while he was away.
AUDIO: Hear Tim’s review of “Dumbo” with Tom Barnard on “The KQ Morning Show” on KQRS-FM.
Clearly distraught from the recent traumatic events in his life, Holt is also struggling to reconnect with his young children, Milly (Nico Parker) and Joe (Finley Hobbins). Fortunately, the two kids strike up a kinship with the young, outcast elephant, whom they discover has an uncanny ability to fly. Once Dumbo’s magical ability is revealed to the world, slick entrepreneur V.A. Vandevere (Michael Keaton) swoops in and convinces Medici to become his partner in his new entertainment megalopolis Dreamland, where the elephant will soar with his aerial star, Collette Marchant (Eva Green). Behind Vandevere’s shiny exterior, though, is a conniving showman will push the limits of safety to make big money on his newest curiosity.
Fans of Burton will get everything they’re hoping for with “Dumbo,” from dazzling visual effects – Dumbo feels like a living breathing creature who really can fly – a big-time, big-top atmosphere, as well as the darker moments fans associate with the director’s previous works. The darker feel comes from the sinister intentions of Vandevere, though, and not the Gothic settings that have been showcased in many of Burton’s previous films. Instead, we get big, bright and dazzling set pieces (courtesy the director’s longtime collaborator, production designer Rick Heinrichs), as well as stunning period costumes via the filmmaker’s frequent collaborator Colleen Atwood.
While reimaging a classic film like “Dumbo” is no doubt a tall order, it’s clear that Burton didn’t set out to top the original “Dumbo” with this new live-action tale, but to create, along with screenwriter Ehren Kruger, a story that sensibly expands the narrative and ultimately serves as a bookend to the 1941 original.
That’s not to say key elements from the animated film were omitted. Dumbo flies thanks to aid of a feather, but uses it in a different sort of way. Plus, you still get the heartbreaking separation of Dumbo from Mrs. Jumbo (accompanied by a new, heartstring-tugging rendition of “Baby Mine”), and some of the big-top antics in the new film hearken the heartache of the baby elephant being ridiculed by unforgiving circus patrons. But with this new version of the tale Dumbo also gets a new family, who are appropriately a group of fellow outcasts who perform in Medici’s circus.
AUDIO: Hear Tim’s review of “Dumbo” with Paul Douglas and Jordana on “Paul and Jordana” on WCCO-AM.
To create a family film about a family of outcasts, Burton smartly reassembled many members of his movie family for “Dumbo.” In addition to Keaton, DeVito and Green, “Dumbo” once again teams Burton with Alan Arkin (who last worked with the director on “Edward Scissorhands”), as well as with his longtime producer Derek Frey and producer/first assistant director Katterli Frauenfelder. The reunion isn’t complete, though, without composer Danny Elfman, whose memorable score weaves in elements of the original “Dumbo’s” music along with his own classic sensibilities.
All told, “Dumbo” is magical tale of wonder, along with plenty of heart, hope and humor. It’s a rare family film for kids of all ages, whether it’s the child who grew up with the animated “Dumbo,” only to become parents to show the movie to their own kids; or to a younger generation who now have a “Dumbo” movie to call their own.
Tim Lammers reviews movies weekly for The KQ92 Morning Show,” “KARE 11 News at 11” (NBC), WCCO Radio, WJON-AM, KLZZ-FM, “The Tom Barnard Podcast” and “The BS Show” with Bob Sansevere.
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