Dumbo it is in the collective imagination a pindaric flight of power and strength: the demonstration that dreams can come true and sometimes override the barriers imposed by one's birth. The story that is expertly shown to us by Tim Burton, is a classic story, without too many alterations, but which this time bears the unmistakable signature of the director. After having amazed us with his stories, will the brave Burton have managed to direct such a peculiar film of its kind? Here is our review, devoid of any spoilers, because what magic would it be if we revealed the trick to you?
From Monster to Hero
At the circus of Medici Brothers, returns after serving the star in war Holt farrier, once the best cowboy in the show. But Holt is not the only one to arrive at the circus: in fact, shortly after his return, Dumbo is born, a small elephant who however has decidedly huge ears compared to his size. Despite until a few minutes before this unexpected discovery, Max Medici boasted to the press for the birth of this "frugoletto", the deformity of the animal instead pushes the circus owner to follow a diametrically opposite path: he would like to get rid of little elephant. Holt, in spite of himself, is assigned to care for the elephants and therefore also Dumbo becomes his responsibility: the task is somewhat onerous, but thanks to his fortitude and the presence of his two children, the circus star manages to do this thankless job to the best of his ability. From here on it is difficult to avoid spoilers, also because the story has undergone some changes necessary for the introduction of "human" characters who were not present in the animated film. Disney. However, we can guarantee that the little elephant will do its job properly, showing how close to dreams can be.
Live Action
Colin Farrell in the role of Holt farrier he is excellent: he plays very well the part of a man "defeated" by the war, but still full of a will to live that always leads him to go "further". Danny DeVito as the head of the circus, Max Medici it's perfect, after all she played the same part in the historic Big Fish, a film by the same director; Eva Green in the role of the French circus Colette marchant he is certainly not very French, but as always he manages to put aside his irrepressible physicality in favor of an acting that aims at looks and expressiveness. Michael Keaton instead he seems to have taken pleasure in playing the part of the "bad guy" (impossible not to remember the role of Vulture in Spider-Man: Homecoming) and here he gives us a VA Vandemere which is a Disney villain, but is perfectly integrated with the film.
Flying on the Fantasia
Dumbo he was able to fly on the imagination of us former young people who find ourselves telling the story of a character who still strikes today: the film is visually very convincing, the songs that were the masters in the original animation are missing but, thanks to an excellent presence of human co-protagonists who expertly tread the scene, they do not miss them. The costumes are beautiful and the choice of using a mix of animals created in computer graphics and trained animals is optimal: the protagonist of the story is also beautiful, visually spectacular and satisfying in expression. The film is an interesting work, with its flaws and its merits, able to entertain and amaze everyone, from large to small, although perhaps in some occasions it lacks a bit of pride, putting too much intelligence in its animal protagonist who performs actions that are a little too complex . You will have to face this film with that incredulity that is typical of children, after all, we are dealing with a flying elephant! Tim Burton he certainly brought us a film that speaks of himself, of how he imagined a flying elephant without completely distorting the original plot that we loved in the animated classic.
