Movie Review: ‘Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken’

What’s the story of ‘Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken’?

Ruby Gillman (Lana Condor) in DreamWorks Animation’s ‘Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken,’ directed by Kirk DeMicco.
© 2023 DreamWorks Animation. All Rights Reserved.

After a fast prologue exploring the surprising historical past of large Krakens –– who on this universe are the staunch protectors of the oceans, doing battle with nasty mermaids –– we’re launched to teenage Ruby Gillman (Lana Condor), who doing her greatest to slot in at Oceanside High School.

She’s obtained a bunch of loyal associates, a crush (Jaboukie Young-White’s Connor, who she tutors in math), and a determined need to attend the promenade. But what she additionally has is a extremely protecting mom (Toni Collette’s Agatha) who’s apprehensive about Ruby going wherever close to the ocean… And the promenade occurs to be on a ship.

Turns out –– because the title suggests –– Ruby’s household are all krakens, and Agatha introduced the household from the ocean to the city earlier than Ruby was born as a result of she’s terrified what would possibly occur ought to her daughter go into the ocean.

Ruby quickly learns precisely why –– diving in to save lots of a fellow pupil, she discovers that being below the waves prompts her full Kraken self: she grows to kaiju proportions, sports activities three large tentacles and has a number of different powers. She additionally meets her grandmother… sorry, “Grandmamah” (Jane Fonda), who simply so occurs to be queen of the krakens and encourages Ruby to embrace her future.

But our heroine actually simply needs to take pleasure in her life as an adolescent, which is made much more sophisticated when she discovers that widespread new lady Chelsea Van Der Zee (Annie Murphy) has her personal secrets and techniques…

Who else is in ‘Ruby Gillman: Teenage Kraken’?

Jane Fonda voices Grandmamah in DreamWorks Animation’s ‘Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken,’ directed by Kirk DeMicco. © 2023 DreamWorks Animation. All Rights Reserved.

The voice solid for DreamWorks’ newest additionally contains Colman Domingo, Sam Richardson, Blue Chapman, Will Forte, Liza Koshy, Ramona Young, Nicole Byer, Echo Kellum, Jordan Matter and Brianna Paige Arsement.

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What works about ‘Ruby Gillman?’

(from left) Chelsea Van Der Zee (Annie Murphy) and Ruby Gillman (Lana Condor) in DreamWorks Animation’s ‘Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken,’ directed by Kirk DeMicco.
© 2023 DreamWorks Animation. All Rights Reserved.

The film showcases a enjoyable visible model that, whereas it gained’t problem animated boundaries the best way that the ‘Spider-Verse’ movies do, it’s nonetheless a pretty and, at instances, electrical variant of DreamWorks’ traditional model.

One or two sequences, corresponding to Ruby’s impassioned plea to attend promenade, delivered through presentation video that calls to thoughts ‘The Mitchells Vs. the Machines’ do break free from the general look, and are enjoyable to observe. And each time the motion heads below the ocean, the colourful tones of the krakens and another ocean life, plus Fonda’s character’s royal palace are realized with affect.

Likewise, the vocal performances are all convincing and emotional, if generally leaning in direction of normal. Collette principally will get to be the apprehensive mother, although in a pleasant contact, there’s much less of the same old teenager-mother stress than you would possibly anticipate in a narrative corresponding to this –– Agatha is given just a few layers of her personal, even earlier than the film explores her personal parental points with Fonda.

(from left) Sam Gillman (Blue Chapman), Agatha Gillman (Toni Collette) and Ruby Gillman (Lana Condor) in DreamWorks Animation’s ‘Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken,’ directed by Kirk DeMicco. © 2023 DreamWorks Animation. All Rights Reserved.

And credit score to Condor (plus the writing group and administrators Kirk DeMicco and Faryn Pearl) for making Ruby really feel relatable and grounded regardless of her fantastical scenario.

But the standout voice star right here is Sam Richardson of ‘The Afterparty’ and ‘Veep’, as Uncle Brill, Agatha’s brother who Ruby and her youthful brother Sam (Chapman) have by no means even met. He’s a bubbly, foolish presence and Richardson completely fills the position. Brill is likely one of the greatest characters within the film and the story is much less entertaining when he’s off display.

Finally, whereas it isn’t as loaded down with references as, say the ‘Shrek’ franchise, ‘Ruby Gillman’ does handle to supply just a few winks. Forte’s Kraken-obsessed Captain Lighthouse has particular Captain Ahab overtones about him. And it’s no coincidence that one of many important mermaids within the movie seems to be suspiciously like a sure Disney character who lately featured in a live-action reimagining of an animated journey.

What are the film’s issues?

Ruby Gillman (Lana Condor) in DreamWorks Animation’s ‘Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken,’ directed by Kirk DeMicco.
© 2023 DreamWorks Animation. All Rights Reserved.

‘Ruby Gillman: Teenage Kraken’ is a enjoyable sufficient movie for households to take pleasure in, however there’s a creeping feeling of familiarity. The complete Kraken storyline is ingenious and has some new concepts on its thoughts, however at its core, it’s filled with the types of themes about believing in your self and letting your true gentle shine.

Don’t get us flawed: these are usually not unhealthy concepts for a younger viewers particularly to ingest whereas having fun with the comedy antics and vocal performances. It’s simply that this newest animated providing does little or no new with the ideas. We suppose there are solely so some ways somebody will be suggested to embrace who they honestly are. Or that you simply shouldn’t abandon your pals when large issues occur in your life. Or that oldsters and children actually need one another greater than they understand. Or… you get the image.

There are additionally just a few different parts which may have common viewers of such motion pictures sighing and tutting in recognition as they sit by means of the 700th model of a personality exploring a brand new world set to a pop hit. For all its story profit, it’s principally wasted time.

Final Thoughts

(from left) Chelsea Van Der Zee (Annie Murphy) and Connor (Jaboukie Young-White) in DreamWorks Animation’s ‘Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken,’ directed by Kirk DeMicco.
© 2023 DreamWorks Animation. All Rights Reserved.

Naturally, DreamWorks is hoping that is the launching level for a brand new franchise, however fortuitously there’s just some delicate, delicate nods to the concept that the story may proceed. For its flaws, ‘Ruby Gillman’ does really feel like a full story by itself.

It’s good to report that this isn’t the 4th installment of a long-established sequence of films, as a result of there ought to all the time be room for authentic filmmaking.

‘Ruby Gillman: Teenage Kraken’ receives 6 out of 10 stars.

(from left) Grandmamah (Jane Fonda) and Ruby Gillman (Lana Condor) in DreamWorks Animation’s ‘Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken,’ directed by Kirk DeMicco. © 2023 DreamWorks Animation. All Rights Reserved.

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‘Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken’ is produced by Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation. It is ready to launch in theaters on June thirtieth, 2023.