Review: Cruella, Raya, and Luca

A Triple, Disney, Review!

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Cruella

I enjoyed Cruella more than I thought I would. Exquisite costume and makeup designs, strong performances from both Emma’s (Stone and Thompson), and just an overall entertaining film. A great summer popcorn flick, I recommend seeing. Plus, actor Paul Walter Hauser was brilliant. Disney's live-action adaptions and remakes have been hit-or-miss in the past, so I did not know what to expect going in for Cruella. It turns out that Cruella was a wonderful surprise of fun storytelling and great acting leads. Emma Stone and Emma Thompson take the film to another dimension with their superb acting chops. Along with the mesmerizing costume and makeup designs, was the clear direction from director Craig Gillespie (Lars and the Real Girl and I, Tonya). Cruella even featured lively '70s music with a killer soundtrack blasting throughout. So, this live-action feature follows the rebellious early days of Cruella de Vil — one of cinema's most notoriously fashionable villains.

Set in 1970s London amidst the punk rock revolution, we follow a young woman named Estella (Stone), a gifted and creative genius determined to make her designs famous. Estella befriends a pair of young thieves, Jasper and Horace (Joel Fry and Paul Walter Hauser), who enjoy her appetite for mischief and mayhem. Hauser's supporting career has been fun to watch. He has always given brilliant performances in the supporting role, whether it's films like BlacKkKlansman, Da 5 Bloods, Late Night, or I, Tonya — Hauser can do it all. One day, Baroness von Hellman (Thompson) sees one of Estella's works and is instantly captivated by it. A reign of terror wields over the Baroness and her power. After she takes Estella in, their strained relationship sets in motion a course of events that will cause Estella to embrace her more wicked side, AKA Cruella.

A revenge thriller with a dash of charm — Cruella surprised me in so many ways. Cruella had its opening premiere in Los Angeles on May 18, making it the first major red carpet event since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The film was released in U.S. theaters and available on Disney+ with Premier Access simultaneously on May 28. According to Samba TV, "the film was watched by about 686,000 American households in its debut weekend, resulting in around $20.57 million in revenue for Disney." Theatrically, Cruella has grossed $132 million worldwide since Memorial Day Weekend. In the end, go watch this enjoyable summer flick.

Cruella is now playing in theaters and or is available to purchase (Premium Access) on Disney+.

I got to experience Cruella at the wonderful Skyview Drive-In in Belleville, IL.

Cruella is rated PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned) Thematic Elements | Some Violence.

Directed by Craig Gillespie

Starring Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Joel Fry, Paul Walter Hauser, Emily Beecham, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Mark Strong, Jamie Demetriou , and John McCrea.

Raya and the Last Dragon

Raya and the Last Dragon is a great family film with gorgeous animation and a story with a big heart. Awkwafina & Kelly Marie Tran are both wonderful as the film’s two leading roles. I highly recommend this one. It’s now free to watch on Disney+. Disney continues their push for more inclusion and representation in its newer works, and Raya reaffirms why that is so important. Raya follows the story of a South-East Asian heroine and her culture, marking a first for Disney to tell a story like this in their 90-year history. Actress Kelly Marie Tran (Rose Tico from The Last Jedi) also made history by voicing Disney's first South-East Asian Princess with her role as Raya in the film. Having a sister who is Asian-American, it is great to see more people of color represented on the big screen, telling their stories to younger audiences from all over the world. Director's Don Hall and Carlos Lopez Estrada's (Big Hero 6 and 2018's Blindspotting) film takes place in a fictional realm known as Kumandra, a fantasy world that’s home to five tribes. Each of the five tribes has its own distinct culture, inspired by different places in South-East Asia. A region home to 11 countries and 673 million people.

In Kumandra, humans, and dragons once lived together in harmony, until sinister monsters known as the Druun threatened the land. To save humanity from the Drunns, the dragons sacrificed themselves. Now, some 500 years later, those same sinister monsters have returned, and it's up to a lone warrior, Raya, to track down the last dragon to wipe out the Druuns for good. Cue Awkwafina as the last dragon in existence named Sisu. As always, Awkwafina (The Farewell, Crazy Rich Asians, and Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens) is a total blast as the voice of Sisu. She's funny and charming as ever, while she'll slap a smile on your face in every scene. Along the way, Raya and Sisu pick up companions — including Boun (voiced by Izaac Wang), a charismatic 10-year-old entrepreneur; a toddler-age con artist named Noi (voiced by Thalia Tran) and her trio of monkey-like friends; and Tong (voiced by Benedict Wong), a difficult but kind-hearted warrior giant. But where there are friends, there are also enemies.

Trying to stop Raya from gathering up all of the dragon gems is her foe Namaari (voiced by Gemma Chan). Raya and the Last Dragon is a great family film that showcases the importance of trust, courage, and representation. Due to the ongoing pandemic, Raya was released to theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access simultaneously. As of June 17, Raya has grossed $54.3 million in the U.S. and Canada, and $79 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $133.3 million. Now free to watch on Disney+, you won't be disappointed. Plus, Us Again might be one of the most heartwarming and lovely short films I have seen in a long time. A beautifully directed and choreographed short that will fill your eyes with wonder and make your heart full. Us Again marks Walt Disney Animation's first theatrical short in five years. A splendid reference to Gene Kelly's Singin' in the Rain, with an interracial couple that shines brightly on the big screen. Director Zach Parrish's (head of animation on Big Hero 6) non-verbal, musical wonderland will sweep you off your feet. A youthful liberation on life and love, Us Again is a must-watch.

Raya and the Last Dragon & Us Again are both free to stream on Disney+.

Raya is rated PG (Parental Guidance) Some Violence | Action | Thematic Elements.

Directed by Don Hall and Carlos Lopez Estrada

Starring Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina, Izaac Wang, Gemma Chan, Daniel Dae Kim, Benedict Wong, Jona Xiao, Sandra Oh, Thalia Tran, Lucille Soong, and Alan Tudyk.

Luca

Luca is a beautiful film, full of the vivid, imaginative freedoms of being a kid. One of Pixar’s sweetest films to date. Luca’s infectious joy will fill your heart with wonder. Now streaming on Disney+, oh how I wish it could have been released to theaters. “Silenzio, Bruno!” Pixar's Luca is a breath of fresh air — colorful and full of magic, Luca paints a beautiful portrait of friendship and freedom. An animated feature so rich and full of life, you'll have a smile from ear to ear by the end of the movie. Pixar's latest feature is similar in style to the likes of Studio Ghibli, while its storytelling hits a sweet spot on a warm summer day. The film takes place in a beautiful seaside town on the Italian Riviera, while we follow the fun coming-of-age story about one young sea monster in the water, turned boy on land. Luca (voiced by Jacob Tremblay) will soon experience a summer like no other, filled with gelato, pasta, and endless scooter rides.

Luca gets to shares these grand adventures with his newfound best friend, Alberto (voice of Jack Dylan Grazer). Yet, their fun is threatened by a deeply-held secret: they are sea monsters under the water, and when they are on land, they transform into humans. Luca marks as director Enrico Casarosa's (2011's La Luna short film) directorial feature debut. Just as La Luna captured your heart back in 2011, Luca will do the same. Luca and Alberto make their way to the seaside town, where they meet and befriend Giulia (voiced by Emma Berman), an 'underdog' girl who wants to win the town's Portorosso Cup Race. But, she has to continue to face the town's bully, Ercole Visconti (voiced by Saverio Raimondo). Luca and Alberto decide to team up with Giulia, so they can win the Cup Race's prize money, and buy their very own Vespa.

It's off to the races for our 'underdog' team, but will their watery secret reach the surface? I'll let you watch and find out on your own. Casarosa's film design and animation were both inspired by the hand-drawn and stop motion works of filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki. Casarosa described his creation as a way that "pays homage to Federico Fellini and other classic Italian filmmakers, with a dash of Miyazaki in the mix too." Luca teaches lessons on friendship, acceptance, and embracing one's differences. If only Luca could have been experienced on the big screen. But, do not let that stop you from watching this cute picture from the comfort of your home. Like ice cream on a warm summer day, Luca hits the sweet spot.

Luca is now streaming on Disney+.

Luca is rated PG (Parental Guidance) Some Thematic Elements | Brief Violence | Rude Humor | Language.

Directed by Enrico Casarosa

Starring Jacob Tremblay, Jack Dylan Grazer, Emma Berman, Maya Rudolph, Giacomo Gianniotti, Jim Gaffigan, Sandy Martin, Francesca Fanti, Gino D'Acampo, Marco Barricelli, and Saverio Raimondo.