Movie Review: Luca

After dropping a philosophical exploration of what makes life worth living and human beings rational fear of death in Soul just 6 short months ago, Pixar owed their fiercely loyal audience a bit of a breather with their next project. Enter Luca-which distills the warmth, relaxation and pleasant vibes of a great summer vacation into movie form.

While this story of 2 sea monsters (the title character voiced by Jacob Tremblay and Alberto voiced by Jake Dylan Grazer) who leave the safety of their homes on the ocean floor to spend the summer in an Italian seaside village whose residents actively hunt their kind does touch on some heavy subjects (fear-based prejudice, parents abandoning their children) along the way, it's far more focused on delivering pure joy and escapism. Luca and Alberto's endless curiosity and huge dreams makes for a true to life take on youth friendship that brings a really pure sweetness to the story and the vibrancy of both the people that occupy the town they go to and the animation that brings it to life establishes a welcoming atmosphere that burns with the same radiance as the sunshine that sits over most of the scenes. 

Seeing this level of outward, abundant positivity run through a Pixar film was a very welcome change (albeit slightly jarring) change of pace for the studio and the impeccable timing of its release only adds to its easygoing appeal. This little walk on the euphoric side of the human experience will be greatly appreciated when they make their swift, inevitable return to making projects that are full of profound existential bombs designed to make the adult viewers contemplate every key aspect of their existence.      

Grade: B