After an unfortunate car crash on a remote woodland road leaves the 5 year old Pete (Oakes Fegley – Person of Interest) an orphan, he encounters a strange green dragon that he names Elliott. 6 years later after surviving in the woods together, the local town’s folk finally stumble upon them; including Forest Ranger Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard – Jurassic World) and her husband Jack (Wes Bentley – The Hunger Games).
Now first up, this film does a key thing very differently from its fellow band of recent Disney remakes: it completely abandons the story of its 1977 original to tell its own. This benefits it significantly because it quickly points out that there's no point judging it against the classic version, it allows it to be considered in its own right. Instead what we have here is a very minimal story about friendship and belonging. It’s arguably telling more of The Jungle Book story than this year’s version did as it sees both boy and dragon come to realize they have their own home to return to. It’s a simple enough idea that makes it accessible to younger viewers while still holding adult interest. Pete’s age at 11 also brings with this a wonderful sense of departing childhood complimented by early suggestions the Elliot is his imaginary friend, that after years of running wild and free, Pete must accept that some things have to change as he grows older. However, there are times when the older/parental viewers will wish there was a little more too it. With Karl Urban (he is the law) and Robert Redford (he is Hydra) joining the cast alongside Bentley and Dallas Howard, there’s no shortage of talent here but most are reduced to being rather shallow characters for plot purposes. Redford’s Mr Meacham is the local Dragon believer while Urban’s Gavin is just there to be the not quite PG bad guy. This is of course, is to keep the focus on Pete and Elliot but it seems that they could have done a bit more here. Maybe give Gavin some money problems for a bigger drive to capture the dragon or inject a prior falling out between Meacham and Dallas Howard’s Grace (his daughter) over his over insistent belief. It’s just calling out for a little more depth and a little less sneeze gags.
The early setup (helped by some excellent Robert Redford narration) pledges Elliott and Pete the pair well with the idea that they both lost and find comfort in each other. I really wasn’t convinced by Elliott’s fluffy appearance in the trailers and posters but it definitely works here making him feel part dragon part puppy; at times, he’s even cumbersome and clumsy but in ways, that give him character. They haven’t tried to imitate any of Toothless and his mega popularity. If anything, he has a few hints of Monsters Inc’s Sully and facial a little inclining of Never Ending Story’s Falkor (which is never a bad thing). Their interactions become a major driving force of the film and despite being the third time this year, we’re seeing a child actor thrown in at the deep end with an imaginary/CG co-star, it doesn’t feel tired. In fact Fegley feels strongly than his Jungle Book and BFG alumni, never feeling like he’s struggling. At several points, he generates some really strong emotions as he reacts to Elliott in peril or their inevitable separation. He makes another more unexpected contribution through is depiction of a lost boy rejoining the world.... yep, this is the “Disney does Room” part (thankfully without the rape). We follow Pete ediscovers human society after long forgetting it, which provides some moments of wonder and light comedy as he re-adjusts with the help of Jack’s daughter Natalie (Oona Laurence - Southpaw), another impressive young talent.
So Pete’s Dragon is the first Disney remake in a while that doesn’t feel like it’s trying to be a Disney remake, which is a refreshing direction that more should be taking. The themes of '70's original have been preserved for a result that will satisfy the older Disney fans in the family while inspiring the new generation (well it’s best to start them with fluffy dragons before showing them Game of Thrones). In fact, in terms of all round family appeal, this one of the year’s best offerings. It packs a lot more emotion under the folds of its wings than you’ll expect too even if can’t quite match Dory on her biggest moments. It’s got plenty of laughs, and just like its original, was a live action/animation hybrid, successfully melds fantasy with a more grounded coming of age story. Tolkien once said, “It simply isn’t an adventure worth telling if they are no dragons”. Pete’s Dragon is an adventure worth telling and a film worth seeing.
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