The Magician's Elephant (2023)

 

 

Streaming Service: Netflix

Movie Name/Year: The Magician's Elephant (2023)

Genre: Adventure, Animation, Family, Fantasy

Length: 1h 39min

Rating: PG

Production/Distribution: Animal Logic, Netflix Animation, Netflix Studios, Village Roadshow Pictures, Netflix

Director: Wendy Rogers

Writers: Kate DiCamillo, Martin Hynes

Actors: Noah Jupe, Brian Tyree Henry, Natasia Demetriou, Mandy Patinkin, Benedict Wong, Miranda Richardson, Cree Summer, Lorraine Toussaint, Sian Clifford, Dawn French, Aasif Mandvi, Pixie Davies, Stephen Kearin, Caitlin McKenna

 

IMDb Blurb: An orphaned boy is told by a fortune teller that an elephant will help him find his lost sister.

 

 

 

Cat’s Point of View:

My first impression of The Magician’s Elephant, when I watched the trailer, was that it looked like it would be a heartwarming and cute family movie. I wasn’t blown away by it but felt that it would offer a wholesome viewing option out of the new releases for March 2023, suitable for a younger crowd. It was an easy selection for the Top 20, but I now feel I underestimated it a bit. 

There were so many layers to the story that went far deeper than a young boy’s quest to rescue an elephant and be reunited with his little sister. Sandwiched in with the fantasy and adventure was also a tale of a war-torn community finding healing. There’s more but I don’t want to get into spoilers. 

 

All told, The Magician’s Elephant was a tale of hope with great balance between the comedic notes and the more somber themes. 

I expected great things from the cast, and they certainly delivered. I wouldn’t have guessed that this was the first animated project for Noah Jupe (Holmes & Watson, A Quiet Place, The Undoing). Though, I always expect great things when Mandy Patinkin (Smurfs: The Lost Village, Wonder, Homeland) is involved. Then, there’s Brian Tyree Henry (Atlanta, The Woman in the Window, Bullet Train) and Benedict Wong (Lady and the Tramp, Raya and the Last Dragon, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law) who are quickly carving out their own place among my favorite actors. I could go on, but you get the picture. 

 

I do feel I must confess that I haven’t read the source material for this particular adaptation, so I am unable to comment regarding comparisons. The tone of The Magician’s Elephant did feel on par with other adaptations of the same author’s work - such as The Tale of Despereaux (2008).

If you’re looking for some good family fun this spring, The Magician’s Elephant wouldn’t be a bad choice. 

 

 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 63%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 67%

Metascore – 48%

Metacritic User Score – none

IMDB Score – 7.1/10

 

Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 4/5

 

Movie Trailer: