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| From left: Luca (Jacob Tremblay) and Alberto (Jack Dylan Glazer) in "Luca" Photo Credit: RottenTomatoes.com |
Of the many things that Pixar does well, one of them is giving us an occasional story that dives into a particular culture. They did this with France in “Ratatouille,” Scotland in “Brave,” and Mexico in “Coco.” When the filmmakers do this, they provide countless fascinating details that invite us into the customs that they depict, all through Pixar’s typical inventiveness and wonderful storytelling.
They accomplish this once again with a movie that takes us to the Italian Riviera in Enrico Casarosa’s “Luca,” which serves as his feature directorial debut With relatable characters and an endearing tale, you’ll be transported to a gorgeous setting that’s sure to enchant.
Taking place off the coast of Italy in the mid-twentieth century, Luca Paguro (Jacob Tremblay) is part of a species of sea creatures who have the ability to take on a human form whenever they’re on land. When he becomes friends with Alberto Scorfano (Jack Dylan Glazer), another member of such species, the two of them set off on an adventure that will change their lives.
Tremblay and Glazer offer humorous and emotional vocal performances as two characters who support each other as they face the challenges of adapting to a world that they fear won’t accept them. There’s a terrific chemistry between Luca and Alberto as they joke around, explore new surroundings, and talk about their dreams. The amount of time that we’re able to spend with them let’s Trembley and Glazer’s work show their abilities to bring these characters to life with their voices and invest us in Luca and Alberto’s journey as they become more acquainted with a world outside of their own.
Trembley and Glazer are backed up by an entertaining supporting cast. There’s Emma Berman as Giulia Marcovaldo, a young girl who befriends Luca and Alberto; Maya Rudolph and Jim Gaffigan as Daniela and Lorenzo, Luca’s parents; Saverio Raimondo as Ercole Visconti, a local bully; Marco Barricelli as Massimo Marcovaldo, a fisherman and Giulia’s father; and Sacha Baron Cohen as Ugo, Luca’s uncle. The best one, however, is Sandy Martin as Luca’s trouble-making grandmother, who always manages to make you laugh whenever she’s on screen.
Although the screenplay by Jesse Andrews and Mike Jones isn’t quite as deep as some of Pixar’s other stories, it still offers a heartwarming narrative with a valuable message. The movie takes its time with Luca adjusting to land and getting to know Alberto. After that, the movie goes in-depth with their growing friendship as they enjoy their new experiences as humans and try to make it through the difficulties that soon threaten their bond.
Casarosa provides stunning visuals for Luca’s underwater home and the Italian coast. As has become the standard with Pixar’s animation, there’s a crispness to the images that help to draw you further into the story, and every time Pixar gives us the opportunity to travel to new locales, we can be sure that they will make them as beautiful and engaging as possible. After all of these years, it’s great to think that Pixar can still impress us with what they can accomplish with whichever setting they have for a particular movie. Between the serenity of Luca’s home and the sun-kissed Italian shores, Casarosa invites you to colorful environments that absorb you in the film’s fantastical elements.
Over the years, Pixar has done well in bringing us across the world, and given the wonderful stories that they’ve told of internationals lands, I’m sure they’ll soon have another memorable addition in their travelogue.
Grade: A-
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