Strange World (2022)

Streaming Service: Disney+

Movie Name/Year: Strange World (2022)

Genre: Action, Adventure, Animation

Length: 1h 42min

Rating: PG

Production/Distribution: Walt Disney Animation Studios, Walt Disney Studios, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Walt Disney Pictures, Disney+

Directors: Don Hall, Qui Nguyen

Writer: Qui Nguyen

Actors: Alan Tudyk, Dennis Quaid, Gabrielle Union, Jaboukie Young-White, Jake Gyllenhaal, Lucy Liu

 

IMDb Blurb: The legendary Clades are a family of explorers whose differences threaten to topple their latest and most crucial mission.

 

Cat’s Point of View:

I would have to admit that Strange World was, indeed, a bit strange. At the same time, it was a lot of fun. 

Before I go further, I feel that I really should give Disney a round of applause for the inclusion of the Clade family’s tripod dog, Legend. That slightly dim, yet heartwarming three-legged ragamuffin was low-key the glue that kept everyone together. I have to tip my proverbial hat to productions that underscore the fact that just because some pets have challenges or look different, it doesn’t make them less deserving of a loving home. 

 

Seriously, though, a lot of my giggles throughout Strange World came from something silly that Legend did. 

So much of Strange World felt relatable. Even though this family found themselves in a fairly alien landscape, they still had their own issues to work through - and on a generational level, at that. In addition to that, the not-so-subtle undertones of encouraging environmental stewardship were cleverly presented. I thought the trading card game was a nice touch. 

 

While the visuals were a bit odd, they made so much more sense on a second watch-through. My family and I had watched Strange World as soon as it was available on Disney+, so I was glad to give myself a refresher today. I found myself having quite a few lightbulb moments. I also giggled a little when I realized Dennis Quaid (The Pretenders, American Underdog, Blue Miracle) was playing the patriarch of the Clade family. He has a bit of a meta-connection to the plot that likely unintentionally occurred. Unfortunately, it would be giving extreme spoilers to explain. 

Strange World presents itself as a fairly diverse and inclusive tale of family, adventure, and environmentalism but doesn’t lose sight of the fact that it is, after all, an animated movie. I do feel the need to mention that some of the creatures depicted in Strange World might be a bit alarming for very small children. Otherwise, I wouldn’t mind giving this movie a recommendation for a fun family activity.

 

 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 66%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score –72%

Metascore – 65%

Metacritic User Score – 3.2/10

IMDB Score – 5.6/10

 

Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 4/5

 

Movie Trailer: