by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Who is a fan of Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron? To be honest, I have never seen it! If enough of you out there reading this review recommend it, I just might have to add it to my watchlist. But this is a strange occurrence then that I am reviewing this long-awaited sequel, Spirit Untamed. Did anyone really wait the past 19 years hoping for this film to finally arrive? Maybe! But as someone who never saw the previous film, I went in expecting a little animated adventure for all ages. Based on the trailer, this seemed like a reasonable expectation to have.
Did these low and broad expectations get met?
After watching this 87 minute adventure, I was not surprised to find a fine little film. This story is about Lucky, a young girl who loses her mother during a first act montage like any good, animated movie for kids. After years, Lucky lives with her aunt, but must spend a season with her estranged father. Much to Lucky’s surprise, she finds herself connecting with a beautiful stallion named (you guessed it) Spirit. She tries to break this stallion, reconnect with her dad, and stop a posse of bad men from stealing all the wild horses. What an exciting little flick! This film hits on all the plot points you expect, and nothing will really surprise you along the way. But does that really matter? I guess that really depends on your expectations for the film. Do you want this film to challenge you? Do you want a story that will surprise you at every turn? Or do you want the comfort of knowing what will happen, but just enjoy it for what it is? Spirit Untamed can guarantee the latter.
Since we are discussing an animated film, how is the animation?
The first film of the series came out during the height of Dreamworks’ early years of beautifully drawn 2D animation. But do the visuals translate well across the media? Not quite in its entirety. The landscapes? Gorgeous. The beauty of the west is so vivid and engrossing in the film. There is a particular sequence with reflections in the water and it is striking. The horses are done well, too. But what about the people? The people are… weird. There is something odd and cartoony about their smooth design. They really stick out in a world animated so beautifully. They look like they are straight out of a TV show instead of a film meant for the cinema.
Even if they look odd, what does the voice cast do to bring them all to life?
In general, the cast does a really solid job. Isabela Merced follows up her work as Dora the Explorer with this genuine and sweet vocal performance. Jake Gyllenhaal and Julianne Moore pop up in this sweet little film offering endearing and serviceable performances that work for their roles. Walton Goggins might just have the most fun with his devious performance as the horse-stealing Hendricks. Andre Braugher of Brooklyn Nine-Nine fame also pops in with a fun supporting role, too. One noticeable absence is a voice for Spirit (who sported Matt Damon as his internal monologue). Spirit works perfectly fine in the confines of this film without a voice.
Are you ready to take a fun ride into this fun little adventure?
Dreamworks takes a beloved tale from their early years and reshapes it with this sweet little tale. Is it particularly interesting or fresh? Not really. But when it comes to a fun little trip for the whole family back to the theater, is that necessary? Obviously, for the adults in the room, that would be nice! But for now, Spirit Untamed is a quaint little flick that is inoffensive and easy watching.
Grade: C