Dumbo (2019) review - Movie Thoughts (Chapter 47) 🐘

Hello everyone,

Today's film is a journey of my own curiosity. I have made it a rule for this project not to re-watch films I have already seen, but this will end up being one of the exceptions to that rule. I saw this film when it came out and actually really loved it. But I don't remember much of the detail as to why. In my general research around film review and binging review content in both podcast and video format, I found someone who shall remain nameless who had a long list of reasons why this film was rubbish. So I decided to revisit this film from an analytical point of view to see once and for all whether I agree with their sentiments....

(**disclaimer: the following thoughts are 100% my opinion, you do not have to agree with them - film is inherently subjective and everyone's perspective is valid! Also, there are probably spoilers in the following, read at your own risk. Now onto some thoughts....**)

Source: IMDB

In the last five years or so, Disney classics are hot property in the live-action remake department. Whenever another title is rumoured or confirmed to be in development, the expectations for what Disney and/or a well-known director can do with these beloved classics are ridiculously high. Perhaps the most curious combination to date was the notion of Tim Burton taking on the heartbreaking, wholesome story of Dumbo. Burton’s unique flair and creative spectacle has cemented his legendary status in cinema circles, and audiences could clearly see this reinvigorated version of Dumbo had numerous distinctly Burton sensibilities that attempted to breath some unique heart into the story. Although visually brilliant and thematically well-constructed, Burton’s Dumbo was not without its flaws.

Based on the 1941 animated film and book by Helen Aberson and Harold Pearl, Dumbo told the story of war veteran circus performer Holt (Colin Farrell) and his two children’s encounter with a wonder-elephant who learns to fly. Once Dumbo’s talents are revealed, the family must work together to stop evil forces taking advantage of his gift. Burton was right in his wheelhouse in evoking a fantastical and viscerally vibrant setting, and the distinct contrast between the basic, family oriented atmosphere of the circus with the over-the-top, magical atmosphere of monstrous theme park Dreamland was obvious throughout the narrative. Rick Heinrichs’ beautiful production design evoked a clear snapshot of time and place, and Colleen Atwood’s costume designs was outstanding. Millie (Nico Parker)’s dresses were sweet and mature, and famed trapeze sweetheart Colette (Eva Green)’s costumes were stupidly elaborate and especially drop dead gorgeous. Visually, there was depth in scope and sweeping camera angles; especially in the trapeze sequences which injected tension and stakes through the middle of the film.

Burton’s Dumbo was solidly constructed through strong direction and robust emotional foundations. ‘Baby of Mine’ was included as a diegetic song in the line of a campfire singalong with a touching mama and baby moment through cage bars. Fantastical, technical and corporate, everything was predictably setup and executed, but that didn’t necessarily detract from generally enjoying what was unfolding onscreen. However, it did lose a bit of stream towards the end of the film, boiling down to a quasi-heist situation where the ‘heroes’ had their individual part to play. Ehren Kruger’s screenplay was a definite sour note throughout with simplistic and clunky dialogue, and almost boring characterisations that easily got lost in Burton’s visual splendour. What saved much of the film’s emotional and visual impact was the direction choices like fog and shadow to amp up the tension and suspense to including Dumbo perspective shots framed like a fisheye to allow audiences to see the highs and lows of what Dumbo was experiencing. A clever choice that added an unexpected but welcome layer of excitement alongside Danny Elfman’s flourishing score. There was a distinct physicality in the storytelling that made audiences forget about the mediocre script and allowed them to get lost in this cheesy but charming journey.

There was also a surprising sinister edges to sequences and characters throughout this film. Michael Keaton’s haughty, self-involved and shadowy performance as amusement park tycoon Vandevere added a degree of deplorable unlikability to the villain that set up very clear stakes for the conflicts. Murder and chaos early on as well as the elements of danger and hold your breath tension took some of the straight sweetness out of what could have been a cavity-inducing fairytale remake.

All of this elements are individually well done, but for this film to truly hit the spot audiences have to be able to invest in the titular character: Dumbo. He is the star of the show alongside the two headstrong children Millie (Parker) and Joe (Finley Hobbins). You have to buy into Dumbo, feel protective and sympathy for him in order for this film to truly sing. The audiences’ earliest introductions to Dumbo are dripping with maternal connection and empathy as everyone hated and/or tormented him. He had these gorgeous big blue eyes and a surprisingly expressive and vulnerable face for a digitally enhanced elephant, and all of a sudden audiences felt like they wanted to protect him. It would look flimsy or shiny without substance, but there is something there; a spark of something disarmingly profound. Parts of this film will grab audiences to the point where you’re nearly crying; whether that is through an attachment to Dumbo or to the values of family, freedom or animal rights that are also baked into the film’s thematic core.

This classic Disney/Burton live-action concoction was a hearty and dynamic emotional rollercoaster from start to finish, with spectacle and merit beneath the surface. There weren’t a lot of laughs, but it’s sweet and a fantastic dream sequence to get lost in as you fall in love with a sweet titular character. Pigs aren’t flying, but this little elephant did with fun and visual pizzazz.

8/10, 4 STARS

Thanks for reading,

Love and cute flying elephants, Emily 🐘