Luca is the story of a single summer in a lovely Italian seaside town of Portorosso. Two sea monster youths, named Luca and Alberto, infiltrate the town to experience human culture and end up helping a young girl named Giulia race in children's triathlon, a long local tradition.
The film has been compared to Studio Ghibli films, most notably Porco Rosso (because Italy) and Kiki's Delivery Service. The latter is an apt description of the general mood of the film. It's at times pure nostalgia and feel-good moments.
Then again, one of the best things about Kiki's is that there's no real villain in it. There's no good or evil, there's not even that much conflict. And that's what makes it so endearing. Whereas in this movie we have a children's film bully so stereotypical that he's even lying about his age in order to keep beating children years and years younger than him.
If that bully had been a bit more three-dimensional or if he'd simply been a rival of Giulia's, this film might have been one of the best Pixar films in recent memory. As it is, it's not bad, and the good moments far outweigh the bad ones. But it has noticeable flaws, I cannot lie.
The film has been compared to Studio Ghibli films, most notably Porco Rosso (because Italy) and Kiki's Delivery Service. The latter is an apt description of the general mood of the film. It's at times pure nostalgia and feel-good moments.
Then again, one of the best things about Kiki's is that there's no real villain in it. There's no good or evil, there's not even that much conflict. And that's what makes it so endearing. Whereas in this movie we have a children's film bully so stereotypical that he's even lying about his age in order to keep beating children years and years younger than him.
If that bully had been a bit more three-dimensional or if he'd simply been a rival of Giulia's, this film might have been one of the best Pixar films in recent memory. As it is, it's not bad, and the good moments far outweigh the bad ones. But it has noticeable flaws, I cannot lie.