Charming but Lack of Originality

Rating: 7/10 (6 September 2016)

Part I: Film The latest presentation from Illumination brings audiences a whole new bunch of adorable animals mimicking Pixar's Toy Story but in an overly familiar blended Zootopia/ Finding Dory story line. While lacks of originality and inspiring emotional engagement, it is still a simple, straight forward story lifted by its fast pacing adventure, bloated with ridiculous fantasy and constant charms that are whole-heartedly fun for animal lovers. Characters development is slightly thin due to variety of pets introduced but the film works well in its smaller moments by capturing the sweet companionship bonding between the pets and their owner as well as how do pets behave behind the doors. Music choice and scores by Alexandre Desplats are decent but comparing with Disney; the bright, colorful, state-to-the-art visual effects especially the city skyline is stunningly impressive. This new attempt after the craze on minions continues the mindless entertainment in a repetitive predictability but its flurry fun is overall enjoyable, ends touchingly and definitely amuse the young audiences.
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Part II: Short Film Mower minions, being short but rebound from empty silliness of the spin off movie last year, offering laughs and at the same time delivering the importance of bringing and sharing happiness with the old folks.