Luca – Review: Another Great Feel-Good Story From Pixar

This is a non-spoiler review for Pixar’s Luca.

Luca is the latest Pixar film that’s been feed to us in 2021. I will admit that I didn’t had much expectations for it, since I knew it would be a good film, but I still felt that Pixar’s golden age had passed. Maybe it was a good thing that I watched it without expectations, because I actually enjoyed every second of it. Let me just be clear from the beginning, it still isn’t on Toy Story‘s level, or Nemo, Wally etc. but it is definitely one of my favorite watches since the COVID-19 lockdown.

Now, in case you don’t know much about the film, here’s a quick synopsis:

Luca, a nervous sea monster, befriends Alberto, & together they start daydreaming of exploring the surface with a Vespa. To make their dreams a reality, they go to a nearby fishing town to win a racing cup for the prize money together with Giulia.

The issue is that, with just the touch of water, their identity will be revealed, so this becomes a great comedic gimmick, which creates some fun dynamics for the plot while raising the stakes since the town is fearful of sea monsters & aim to hunt them down.

As with any Pixar film, it has a very solid story throughout, even though it’s pretty simplistic & predictable. But, I mean, we can’t be expecting complexity in family films, & the story serves perfectly its emotional purpose with a satisfying & heartwarming ending. The characters were very endearing. Each one had its distinct personality and felt very cohesive when interacting with one another. Luca & Alberto where great, especially Luca, who was the heart and soul of the film. However, the highlight for me was, without a doubt, Giulia. She demanded my attention with her energy, quirks and charisma. It was a very complete character that was very active throughout the story, and obviously a key factor for Luca’s & Alberto’s growth.

The animation style was amazing & unique, but not enough for it to loose that Pixar essence that we really like. It was so beautiful. From the water animation, to the characters’ expressions, and of course, the impressive lighting effects, it was all a pleasing watch.

The best thing about it is how it captures the essence of what being a kid really is. A life that’s full of imagination, dreams, and curiosity to discover the world, with the genuine innocence of an everyday kid.

Luca is a great coming-of-age film that captures literally what being a fish out of water story should be, full of wonder, fear, courage & most importantly, joy.

It won’t necessarily enter the Pixar hall of fame, but it still has all the Pixar elements we know & love.

Score: 8/10

Be sure to watch our latest videos on our YouTube Channel!