Spellbound – REVIEW

As a seasoned movie enthusiast who has seen his fair share of animated features, I must say that “Spellbound” seems like a captivating addition to the genre. The storyline, with its blend of fantasy and reality, resonates deeply with my personal life experiences – being a caregiver for aging parents while trying to maintain one’s own identity.

In Netflix’s latest animated series, Spellbound, many teenagers view their parents as frightful beasts. The protagonist, Princess Elian (played by Rachel Zegler), is a 15-year-old who longs to soar above her kingdom with her friends on creatures resembling flying hamsters with beaks. However, it’s not the royal consul Bolinar (John Lithgow) and Nazara (Jenifer Lewis) who are allowing this freedom; instead, they are keeping Queen Ellsmere (Nicole Kidman) and King Solon (Javier Bardem) hidden from the public. They concoct various excuses to explain the royal couple’s absence, leaving courtiers and army generals like Olga Merediz wondering why they can’t meet their monarchs in person. As time passes, curiosity grows about the whereabouts of the King and Queen, and inevitably, just as with Harry and Megan, these “monsters” break free from the palace. The secret is revealed, leading to General and her troops setting out on a quest to capture them and expel them from the kingdom.

Princess Elian is set to ascend the throne as Queen Elian, but this isn’t what she desires. Instead, her heart yearns for her parents to be restored in human form. The solution arrives in the guise of a pair of gay oracles who provide the knowledge necessary to cast the spell and bring back her parents. With this newfound hope, Elian embarks on a kingdom-spanning journey, accompanied by her transformed parents, Bolinar – whose body has been swapped with another, and a friendly, voracious creature reminiscent of a child-friendly Katie Price.

Created by former Pixar chief John Lasseter, this production follows the classic Disney formula, featuring a young heroine embarking on a mission, interspersed with musical numbers by Alan Menken. Unlike many contemporary musicals, it lacks catchy tunes that linger in your mind. Instead, its modern-day theme resonates deeply – the child caring for their parents, thereby missing out on a typical childhood experience – is particularly relatable to children in similar situations.

Directed by Vicky Jenson, renowned for her work on the original Shrek film from 2001, this production features delightful subtle details such as a colossal frog with a pine tree air freshener in its mouth and the Head of Pigeons at the palace covered in bird droppings. The animation style leans more towards Disney’s rather than Pixar’s. Essentially, it’s a heartfelt tribute to the importance of family, though it might be slightly lengthy. It should keep children engaged, although it may not captivate them completely like ‘Spellbound’.

Here’s the Spellbound trailer …….

2024-11-22 11:23

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