Nicole Kidman in Netflix animated fantasy

Brutal parents’ accusations taken literally obsessedis a deeply moving yet somewhat familiar animated fantasy musical from Skydance Animation. When protagonist Elle Ann (Rachel Ziegler) describes her parents as monsters, she’s not responding to cliche accusations leveled by teenagers around the world. She is so serious. About a year ago, as she wandered through the forest, her parents transformed into unruly behemoths.

In the Kingdom of Lumbria, few people are aware of this transformation, because with the help of royal advisors Bolinar (John Lithgow) and Nazara (Jennifer Lewis), the princess successfully converts her The parents hide away most of the year. In a charming early sequence, Ariane cites the very normal adolescent desire to spend more time with mom and dad, not less, as the reason why she can’t hang out with her friends. But the masquerade is not sustainable, and on the eve of her 15th birthday, Ellienne makes a breakthrough in her efforts to break the curse.

helmsman Shrek Co-director Vicki Janson, obsessed Follow Elian across the continent to save her parents. The film showcases vivid animation and some very striking moments, captured through close-ups and unexpected angles – but is similar to Skydance Animation’s debut luck, obsessed Inspire a feeling of déjà vu. It focuses on the relationship between a young man and a parent who transforms from human to animal form, reminiscent of Pixar plots brave and Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away.

obsessed Try to differentiate yourself early on. The script by Lauren Heineke, Elizabeth Martin, and Julia Miranda doesn’t reveal the reasons for the parents’ transformation until near the end—a smart choice that lets the audience feel the pain of the action from the first song, all together Gullah performs the song with typical panache. The number (music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Glenn Slater) quickly establishes King Sauron (Javier Bardem) and Queen Ellesmere (Nicole Kidman) as monsters facts and explains how Elian came to occupy the position of de facto leader of the country.

It also gets to the emotional core of the story – Elian’s loneliness as a young person forced to care for her parents and maintain hope in the face of despair. (No one in Lumbria questions the nature of their monarch’s sudden seclusion, which requires us to suspend our faith for a moment.)

Mischief ensues obsessedof the first act. Elyan encounters the Oracle (humorously voiced by Nathan Lane and Tituss Burgess), who initially appears to have found a solution to the monster problem. Unfortunately, they don’t prove to be of much help, and panic sets in when citizens finally discover the truth about the royal leader. Seize the kingship.

Meanwhile, Elian returns to despair in order to protect her misunderstood family and once again seeks advice from the Oracle. The plot meanders like this for a while, confusingly at times, and then moves in a more direct direction.

Once Elian, her monster parents, and her pet rat leave the courtroom, obsessed It largely follows the typical beats of a road narrative, although there are some surprising moments. What stands out most are the vibrant and poignant visuals. Wide-angle shots help us appreciate the kingdom’s picturesque herbaceous landscapes, while close-ups prove these monsters have an inner life.

Memorable scenes include when Elian and her parents are in a cave and their echoes turn into glowing orbs. The two monsters humorously imitate their daughter, whose melodic voice echoes through the dark corridors. It’s the first time we hear Kidman and Bardem’s voices, and the moment carries emotional weight as Ariane realizes her parents can understand her after a year of mumbling and incoherent sounds. . The journey is filled with moments like this, where Elian finally reconnects with her parents after a long period of being deprived of their material and emotional support. Kidman and Bardem also get the chance to sing, delivering a touching tune about memory and their past lives as humans.

However, the closer Elian and her parents get to their solution, the more… obsessed Edge into forgotten realms. When the movie broadens its scope and shifts the focus away from the parents, it loses its familiarity. The forests, the creatures within them, and the challenges presented by the landscape start to look like nothing we’ve seen before. Even the songs, while reassuring, seem more ephemeral.

But the revelation of the life of Elian and her parents before they were transformed into monsters rekindles the stakes of the film. The third act, which I won’t spoil here, does offer something truly different, including lessons about the children, their parents, and the chasm of misunderstanding that widens with each conflict. The closer obsessed The more you stick with the message, the more emotionally powerful it will be.