B. Merry

It's been a VERY long time since I've been able to go to the movies, sit back, and enjoy a film. Is it a perfect film story-wise? No. There are plot holes and a few pacing issues. But coming from a woman who majored in film production, it's hard for me to find movies that make me smile the whole way through. Movies that make me disregard the problems because I had too much fun. This movie is the exception. I was grinning like an idiot the entire time watching this! Everyone seemed to be having so much fun (adult and child actors alike)! The humor was great, the climax incredible, and the acting superb on all accounts! Especially from Steve. Sorry every human actor in this but Steve the Pen stole the spotlight! The critics are being way too harsh on this. I. Had. Fun. Plain and simple. It was an escape and it made me smile. That's when I give a movie five stars. If I walk out feeling either happy or changed, then I know it was a good film.

While the animation was gorgeous and full of fun imagery, I felt the story was a touch lacking; especially with its two main characters. They were the stereotypical big doofus brother and insecure/anxious little brother who have to find common ground on a buddy road trip. Honestly, if the story had focused more on who the father really was and perhaps made Barley more of a father figure to Ian, I feel it would've been a lot more heartfelt and possibly have made me cry happy tears. But it followed a very typical formula of two brothers who don't understand each other, have a touching moment, then fight and blow up at each other, then give up, then join back together to defeat the 'bad guy'. The adventure itself was a bit bland and chuck full of random filler moments that added nothing to the overlapping theme. And speaking of which; I don't really know what the theme was... the tone was all over the place, too, which didn't help matters either. It's a harmless movie that'll surely make you laugh (as it did for me), but as storytelling goes it's alright, I suppose. Not groundbreaking like other Pixar films (Toy Story, Up, Inside Out), but you'll have a good time seeing it.