Disney’s Dumbo tells the story of a young elephant quite literally born into a world of circus wonder. Circus owner Max Medici (Danny DeVito) and his troupe have struggled over the last few years to keep things going. When Holt (Colin Farrell) returns from the war and is reunited with his children, Millie (Nico Parker) and Joe (Finley Hobbins), he struggles to find his place. This all changes when they discover a newborn elephant in the hay that has quite the peculiar look going. Dumbo’s ears are much larger than any elephant and it’s quite odd. Max tries to conceal these ears of irregularity but they can’t be contained.
The secret gets out and, all of the sudden, Dumbo might be the missing piece to this circus’s success. This piques the interest of V. A. Vandevere (Michael Keaton) who must simply have Dumbo under his own tent, so to speak. With the lovely Colette Marchant (Eva Green) by his side, Vandevere tries to capitalize on Dumbo’s irregularity and doesn’t care who or what gets hurt along the way. Dumbo finds himself in the middle of a power struggle and exploitation as family is the only thing that matters to this little one.
Tim Burton is not the first name that may come to mind when it comes to who should direct a re-imagining of a Disney classic. Upon further analysis, Burton could actually make this work. His presence is immediately felt with the darker tone teased throughout. While not scary or anything, there is certainly an air of despair…along with a hint of hope. The special effects are well done in embracing practical scenes and sprinkling it with CGI. Dumbo looks fantastic and should be received with a high amount of praise from that aspect.
The acting is just okay. Colin Farrell’s southern accent is almost overpowering and Michael Keaton’s performance is a bit too “used car salesman-ish”. Eva Green gets kind of lost in everything and Danny DeVito is mildly entertaining. Probably the best performances come from the youngest stars of Dumbo, CGI elephants not included. Nico Parker and Finley Hobbins are really good and are a pleasure to watch. There’s also a great cameo that you’ll want to keep your eyes (or ears) peeled for.
What will children think of Tim Burton’s re-imagining of this Disney classic? For starters, parents know their children best and what they may or may not be able to handle. The early scenes of Dumbo are pretty intense, as are some of the sequences towards its conclusion. There are scenes and subject matter that could upset the younger demographic but there’s nothing that’s truly terrifying. Still though, be ready for maybe some lap-sitting here and there.
Aside from that, the only other aspect that I’d raise a slight caution flag for is the runtime. Clocking in at nearly two hours, parents should prepare for some fidgety, restless instances. Keep this in mind if your planning on giving them sugar infused concessions and something to wash it down. A trip to the restroom could be in your near future.
Adults should find fond memories floating about while reminiscing about their time as children watching the original animated classic. While not as whimsical, Dumbo does keep the magic alive and well with some keen animation. This is not the best live-action remake that Disney has offered in recent years but it’s entertaining nonetheless. Keep this title in mind as your seeking something entertaining to do as a family as Spring Break and Easter approach. You can see this one in theaters right now.
