Strange World Parent Guide

Avalonia is an isolated community surrounded by perilous, seemingly unending mountains. Convinced that there must be a way past the mountains, legendary adventurer Jaeger Clade (Dennis Quaid) sets out on numerous expeditions, all unsuccessful. On one fateful mission, Jaeger’s son, Searcher (Jake Gyllenhaal), finds a mysterious, electric plant. With one believing their future is in these plants, and one still stubbornly searching for a new home, father and son part ways. Twenty five years later, Searcher has helped turn the plants into an energy source for Avalonia but they are starting to succumb to a mysterious illness. Reluctantly, Searcher sets out on one more adventure, this time with his son, Ethan (Jaboukie Young-White) in tow.

Nostalgia is in right now, whether you like it or not. Ironically, although Strange World is an original story, itis not terribly distinctive. The world, though beautiful to look at, is almost entirely referential. The style, creatures, and human creations all harken back to sources like H.P Lovecraft, Atlantis: The Lost Empire, and Fantastic Voyage. This is not itself a bad thing, as the film is obviously trying to style itself after a vintage pulp adventure comic, but it is indicative of the predictable storyline, which is detrimental to the finished product.

The visuals and voice acting are phenomenal and are worth the price of admission. The writing, however, is lacking. The characters themselves are decently written, and there are a few good laughs, but the plot overall is predictable and lacks the stakes that would jack up the tension and excitement. Or at the very least, the high stakes are diminished by the lack of focus and the ill-timed jokes that undermine the more serious moments. Relationships between the characters, especially the three male Cades, are well developed and powerful, but they can overshadow the adventure, which sometimes takes a back seat.

Although not reaching the highs of recent triumphs like Encanto, Strange World is still one of Disney’s better outputs in recent years. The story and writing are flawed, but still effective in delivering powerful messages about resourcefulness, legacy, family relationships and living in harmony with nature. There is very little negative content, making this a great choice for most audiences. Although I was picking apart the story structure (as English majors are wont to do), the children in the theater seemed to be having a great time, so maybe I’m the real problem here. If you, and the children in your life, like adventure, nostalgia, and stories about father-son dynamics, this is a perfectly serviceable, if somewhat forgettable, option.