The Good Dinosaur
Director: Peter Sohn
Cast: Raymond Ochoa, Jack Bright, Jeffrey Wright, Frances McDormand, Marcus Scribner, Maleah Nipay-Padilla, Peter Sohn, Steve Zahn, Sam Elliott, Anna Paquin, AJ Buckley,
"The Good Dinosaur" asks the question: What if the asteroid that forever changed life on Earth missed the planet completely and the dinosaurs never became extinct? When a rainstorm washes a timid, young Apatosaurus named Arlo (Raymond Ochoa) downriver, he ends up bruised, battered and miles away from everything dear and familiar. Good fortune shines on Arlo, when he encounters Spot (Jack Bright), a Neanderthal boy who offers Arlo his help and friendship. Together, Arlo and Spot form an unlikely friendship, and together, they embark on an epic adventure to reunite Arlo with his beloved family. Along the way, Arlo learns the power of confronting his own fears and discovers of what he is truly capable.
Friendship is a powerful theme in this film, and nowhere is friendship symbolized more beautifully, than in the characters of Arlo and Spot and the journey they must embark on together to reunite with their respective families.
One illustration of friendship, which is expressed through emotional dialogue in this film, is shown when Arlo and Spot are spending the night by the lake and Arlo finally shares his heart with Spot and he admits that he misses his family, especially his Dad. In this moment, we see Spot and Arlo create their families with the sticks and then push over the ones who have died, burying them in the sand. As Arlo is crying over his lost family, Spot comes and lays his head on Arlo's foot and pats him with his hand...like he is comforting Arlo, even though they cannot understand each other’s words. Another moment of emotional storytelling is shown when Spot finds his new family. You see that Spot is curious at first, and then a bit scared, but you clearly see that he likes them and there is a connection there...even with no spoken dialogue. Just the eyes and the expressions tell the story. And you see another story play out in Arlo's expressions when he goes from fear and uncertainty of these strangers....to shock and pain when he sees them with Spot....to acceptance when he recognizes the connection between Spot and his new family....and even when Spot wants to go with Arlo, Arlo tells him to stay by drawing a circle around Spot and his new family....telling Spot that he belongs with his new family, just as Arlo belongs with his mother and siblings in his circle.
While Arlo and Spot cannot understand each other’s language, they do find a way to connect through unspoken communication. When Arlo wakes up to find himself lost and alone, Spot finds Arlo and brings various forms of nourishment until he can eat. When they climb the mountain to get the berries, Spot protects Arlo from the snake lurking in the berry bush…The most important way this pair expresses themselves, is by howling to each other. When Arlo and Spot are sharing the stories about each of their families, there is a moment of deep sadness when Arlo realizes that he misses his family. Spot comforts Arlo by laying his head on Arlo’s leg and they both howl at the moon…their melancholy cry entwining them in their moment of grief. When Arlo and Spot finally see Claw Tooth Mountain, and realize they are home, they howl to each other, just for the sheer joy of it…but this time, their howls are echoed by a mysterious figure, watching them from the mountain. Although Spot is intrigued by this stranger, Arlo immediately guides him away, telling Spot they need to get home. When the Pterodactyls return and abduct Spot, we hear Spot howling to Arlo as they fly away… only this time, his howling is not one of joy, but a desperate plea for his friend to come and save him. When Arlo wakes up from his dream, he bravely charges after the Pterodactyls who abducted his friend, this time, his howl acting as a battle cry, telling Spot that Arlo is coming to save him. Spot answers this howl with one of his own and leads Arlo to where he is trapped by the Pterodactyls on the river. When Spot is leaving with his new family, he howls to Arlo, one last time, and Arlo answers him. This howl that they share symbolizes goodbye, I love you, and be brave, all rolled into one.
Overcoming one’s fear is a powerful theme in this film, and nowhere is this theme illustrated more perfectly, than in the character of Arlo, himself, and the journey this timid, young dinosaur must embark on to complete the family circle, by placing his own footprint on the wall, to symbolize Arlo’s success in overcoming his crippling fear.
From the moment he was born, Arlo was unique from his brother and sister. Unlike his tough older brother, Buck, and his sassy and effervescent sister, Libby, Arlo is an exceedingly small and timid little dinosaur, whose deep fear of everything is preventing him from making his mark on the wall of the family’s home. Arlo’s father, Henry, tells his son that he must overcome his fear, if he wants to see the beauty on the other side of that fear. Henry takes Arlo out into a grassy meadow, in the middle of the night, and tells his son to walk out into the darkness alone. After a moment, Arlo’s father shows him that the darkness can also be beautiful, when he shows Arlo the fireflies, which light up the meadow with their luminescent beauty. One of Arlo’s greatest fears is the wild Neanderthal boy that keeps stealing the family’s food. When his father discovers that Arlo’s fear of the little Neanderthal caused him to fail in capturing the child in his trap, he forces Arlo to follow the child along the river’s edge. As they are pursuing the child, Arlo’s fear overcomes him, and this fear is solidified when his father dies in the river. While Arlo initially blames Spot for his father’s death, there is a moment in the film, after Spot is taken, that symbolizes Arlo finally making his mark. Arlo sees his father again, but he realizes, after seeing his own footprint in the mud, but not his father’s, that his father is not there with him anymore. He tells his father’s ghost that while he does feel scared, he still needs to go back and rescue Spot, because he loves Spot and they have become friends. Arlo tells his father that it was not Spot’s fault that his father died in the stormy river. It is in this moment, that Arlo’s father smiles down at his son and tells Arlo “I knew you had it in you…you are me and more.” In this moment, Arlo finally overcomes his crippling fears and makes peace with his father’s death. This is illustrated when Arlo bravely jumps into the stormy river to battle the Pterodactyls and save Spot, rather than cowering in fear, as he did when his father was taken by the river.
It was only after Arlo's father dies, and Arlo goes on this journey alone with Spot, that Arlo truly comes of age, and overcomes his debilitating fear, and realizes that he is worthy of making his mark on the wall. As heartbreaking as his father's death was, it was necessary for Arlo to stand on his own. He was initially terrified of Spot, but as they went on their journey together, Arlo realizes that he and Spot are very much the same. They have each lost someone dear to them, and they are alone and misunderstood. In the end, Arlo must make a choice…and he chooses to let Spot return to be with his family, and Arlo, himself, returns home to his mother and siblings, and puts his footprint on the wall, right next to his father’s footprint. The symbolism of the shadows also illustrates Arlo’s journey coming full circle…from seeing his father's shadow at the beginning, to now, Arlo’s shadow reflecting his father’s shadow…showing his courage and maturity as he goes home.
The Good Dinosaur is a beautiful and heartfelt film that captures the essence of friendship that is born between Arlo and Spot. The music, the stunning animation, and the moments of emotional storytelling that Arlo shares with his father and with Spot, are the most powerful moments in this film. If you enjoy a good coming of age story, then The Good Dinosaur is a film that I would highly recommend.
© 2024 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.
Director: Peter Sohn
Cast: Raymond Ochoa, Jack Bright, Jeffrey Wright, Frances McDormand, Marcus Scribner, Maleah Nipay-Padilla, Peter Sohn, Steve Zahn, Sam Elliott, Anna Paquin, AJ Buckley,
"The Good Dinosaur" asks the question: What if the asteroid that forever changed life on Earth missed the planet completely and the dinosaurs never became extinct? When a rainstorm washes a timid, young Apatosaurus named Arlo (Raymond Ochoa) downriver, he ends up bruised, battered and miles away from everything dear and familiar. Good fortune shines on Arlo, when he encounters Spot (Jack Bright), a Neanderthal boy who offers Arlo his help and friendship. Together, Arlo and Spot form an unlikely friendship, and together, they embark on an epic adventure to reunite Arlo with his beloved family. Along the way, Arlo learns the power of confronting his own fears and discovers of what he is truly capable.
Friendship is a powerful theme in this film, and nowhere is friendship symbolized more beautifully, than in the characters of Arlo and Spot and the journey they must embark on together to reunite with their respective families.
One illustration of friendship, which is expressed through emotional dialogue in this film, is shown when Arlo and Spot are spending the night by the lake and Arlo finally shares his heart with Spot and he admits that he misses his family, especially his Dad. In this moment, we see Spot and Arlo create their families with the sticks and then push over the ones who have died, burying them in the sand. As Arlo is crying over his lost family, Spot comes and lays his head on Arlo's foot and pats him with his hand...like he is comforting Arlo, even though they cannot understand each other’s words. Another moment of emotional storytelling is shown when Spot finds his new family. You see that Spot is curious at first, and then a bit scared, but you clearly see that he likes them and there is a connection there...even with no spoken dialogue. Just the eyes and the expressions tell the story. And you see another story play out in Arlo's expressions when he goes from fear and uncertainty of these strangers....to shock and pain when he sees them with Spot....to acceptance when he recognizes the connection between Spot and his new family....and even when Spot wants to go with Arlo, Arlo tells him to stay by drawing a circle around Spot and his new family....telling Spot that he belongs with his new family, just as Arlo belongs with his mother and siblings in his circle.
While Arlo and Spot cannot understand each other’s language, they do find a way to connect through unspoken communication. When Arlo wakes up to find himself lost and alone, Spot finds Arlo and brings various forms of nourishment until he can eat. When they climb the mountain to get the berries, Spot protects Arlo from the snake lurking in the berry bush…The most important way this pair expresses themselves, is by howling to each other. When Arlo and Spot are sharing the stories about each of their families, there is a moment of deep sadness when Arlo realizes that he misses his family. Spot comforts Arlo by laying his head on Arlo’s leg and they both howl at the moon…their melancholy cry entwining them in their moment of grief. When Arlo and Spot finally see Claw Tooth Mountain, and realize they are home, they howl to each other, just for the sheer joy of it…but this time, their howls are echoed by a mysterious figure, watching them from the mountain. Although Spot is intrigued by this stranger, Arlo immediately guides him away, telling Spot they need to get home. When the Pterodactyls return and abduct Spot, we hear Spot howling to Arlo as they fly away… only this time, his howling is not one of joy, but a desperate plea for his friend to come and save him. When Arlo wakes up from his dream, he bravely charges after the Pterodactyls who abducted his friend, this time, his howl acting as a battle cry, telling Spot that Arlo is coming to save him. Spot answers this howl with one of his own and leads Arlo to where he is trapped by the Pterodactyls on the river. When Spot is leaving with his new family, he howls to Arlo, one last time, and Arlo answers him. This howl that they share symbolizes goodbye, I love you, and be brave, all rolled into one.
Overcoming one’s fear is a powerful theme in this film, and nowhere is this theme illustrated more perfectly, than in the character of Arlo, himself, and the journey this timid, young dinosaur must embark on to complete the family circle, by placing his own footprint on the wall, to symbolize Arlo’s success in overcoming his crippling fear.
From the moment he was born, Arlo was unique from his brother and sister. Unlike his tough older brother, Buck, and his sassy and effervescent sister, Libby, Arlo is an exceedingly small and timid little dinosaur, whose deep fear of everything is preventing him from making his mark on the wall of the family’s home. Arlo’s father, Henry, tells his son that he must overcome his fear, if he wants to see the beauty on the other side of that fear. Henry takes Arlo out into a grassy meadow, in the middle of the night, and tells his son to walk out into the darkness alone. After a moment, Arlo’s father shows him that the darkness can also be beautiful, when he shows Arlo the fireflies, which light up the meadow with their luminescent beauty. One of Arlo’s greatest fears is the wild Neanderthal boy that keeps stealing the family’s food. When his father discovers that Arlo’s fear of the little Neanderthal caused him to fail in capturing the child in his trap, he forces Arlo to follow the child along the river’s edge. As they are pursuing the child, Arlo’s fear overcomes him, and this fear is solidified when his father dies in the river. While Arlo initially blames Spot for his father’s death, there is a moment in the film, after Spot is taken, that symbolizes Arlo finally making his mark. Arlo sees his father again, but he realizes, after seeing his own footprint in the mud, but not his father’s, that his father is not there with him anymore. He tells his father’s ghost that while he does feel scared, he still needs to go back and rescue Spot, because he loves Spot and they have become friends. Arlo tells his father that it was not Spot’s fault that his father died in the stormy river. It is in this moment, that Arlo’s father smiles down at his son and tells Arlo “I knew you had it in you…you are me and more.” In this moment, Arlo finally overcomes his crippling fears and makes peace with his father’s death. This is illustrated when Arlo bravely jumps into the stormy river to battle the Pterodactyls and save Spot, rather than cowering in fear, as he did when his father was taken by the river.
It was only after Arlo's father dies, and Arlo goes on this journey alone with Spot, that Arlo truly comes of age, and overcomes his debilitating fear, and realizes that he is worthy of making his mark on the wall. As heartbreaking as his father's death was, it was necessary for Arlo to stand on his own. He was initially terrified of Spot, but as they went on their journey together, Arlo realizes that he and Spot are very much the same. They have each lost someone dear to them, and they are alone and misunderstood. In the end, Arlo must make a choice…and he chooses to let Spot return to be with his family, and Arlo, himself, returns home to his mother and siblings, and puts his footprint on the wall, right next to his father’s footprint. The symbolism of the shadows also illustrates Arlo’s journey coming full circle…from seeing his father's shadow at the beginning, to now, Arlo’s shadow reflecting his father’s shadow…showing his courage and maturity as he goes home.
The Good Dinosaur is a beautiful and heartfelt film that captures the essence of friendship that is born between Arlo and Spot. The music, the stunning animation, and the moments of emotional storytelling that Arlo shares with his father and with Spot, are the most powerful moments in this film. If you enjoy a good coming of age story, then The Good Dinosaur is a film that I would highly recommend.
© 2024 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.