I had all the good reasons to have great expectations from ‘Isle of Dogs‘. First, it’s a movie about dogs. Second, it’s animation and the trailer looked great (including the dogs). Third, it’s set in Japan, a country I love for its culture, including the passion for film, animation and manga. Fourth it’s a movie by Wes Anderson and I liked his previous work. And yet, I was quite disappointed. ‘Isle of Dogs‘ was much less than what I had expected.
source https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5104604/
It’s a film by Wes Anderson and it comprises many of the qualities that you can expect from the stylish director. It is amazing in it’s visual part which combines a dystopic image of the close visuals of Japan with animation descending from the Japanese manga style and from the Disney dog lovers division. It gathers in the distribution a unique collection of stars which borrow their voices to the animated characters. It lacks however one important component – a compelling and original story. All the talent invested in the movie seems wasted in an exuberant aesthetic show supporting a rather childish and expected story about a teens and children helping good dogs in their fight against bad men. Too simple, too linear.
(video source Zero Media)
Dogs seldom fail us in real life. This is one exception. Luckily, it happens on screen.