Ferdinand

A fun movie for the kids with a pertinent message about winning a fight without fighting.

How do you turn a five-minute classic short story into a feature film without losing its core essence? "Ferdinand" tries to answer that question with a mix of visual charm and divisive narrative choices. If you've ever felt pressured to fit into a mold that wasn't meant for you, this story will definitely resonate. But does the movie's execution actually live up to the greatness of the original message? Get ready to unpack the ups and downs of an animated movie that entertains and touches your heart, but also stumbles on its own ambition to please everyone.

Visually speaking, the movie carries Carlos Saldanha's undeniable and colorful signature. The rural Spanish landscapes are painted with warm, earthy tones that contrast beautifully with the vibrant red of Ferdinand's flowers. The character design is round and friendly, perfectly tailored for kids. However, I feel like the animation, while well done, plays it a bit too safe. When you compare it to Pixar's hyper-realistic textures or the groundbreaking styles popping up around the same time in movies like Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Ferdinand's look feels too conservative—pretty, but a little generic.

Where the movie really hits the bullseye is with its main character. Casting John Cena (for the original voice acting) was a stroke of genius. The meta-joke of having a massive pro wrestler voicing a giant bull who hates fighting adds a delightful layer to the story. Cena brings a genuine vulnerability and sweetness that makes us root for Ferdinand right from the start. It’s his journey—trying to stay true to his gentle nature in a world that demands aggression—that grounds the movie and keeps it from going off the rails.

How do you stretch such a quick children's read into a nearly two-hour movie? The studio's workaround—fleshing out the protagonist's backstory and adding subplots—is hit or miss. The first act works well in setting up Ferdinand's childhood and building empathy. But the second act defi...