'Flora & Ulysses' Review
PG: For some mild action and thematic elements
Runtime: 1 Hr and 30 Minutes
Production Companies: Walt Disney Pictures, Netter Productions
Distributor: Disney+
Director: Lena Khan
Writer: Brad Copeland
Cast: Matilda Lawler, Alyson Hannigan, Ben Schwartz, Anna Deavere Smith, Danny Pudi, Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, Janeane Garofalo, Kate Micucci
Release Date: February 19, 2021
Disney+
Based on the children’s novel by Kate DiCamillo, an imaginative and creative 10-year-old cynic never could have predicted that her little squirrel would be born anew as a superhero and have the uncanny knack for helping her and the lovable but broken people in her life.
Part of what makes this oddball adventure-comedy more surprising than I expected is Flora and the world around her, even before she meets her superpowered squirrel. Flora is established as a nerdy 10-year-old girl who is often left to her own devices as her middle-aged parents hardly pay her any mind, for they are separated, on the brink of getting a divorce, while being consumed by their own work. It’s a relatable scenario that not many family films portray. I was surprised by how much depth was put into displaying the unsatisfying life that this girl leads, even down to inserting a spot-on depiction of the draining life of a writer. Flora’s mom is a romance novelist who lost her romantic spark and her dad is a comic book writer who hasn’t had a hit in years, facing nothing but rejection from different publishers. The failures of both of their careers took a toll on their mental health and their marriage.
As a fellow writer who knows the low pits of depression after getting rejected for a passion project, along with being a child of divorce, I completely understand the factors that played into this couple’s separation. I sympathize with all parties involved, especially their daughter Flora, who is constantly reminiscing on the days when her parents still had a love for each other. Flora isn’t rebellious by any means; she’s a good kid who is relatively optimistic for her age, but you still notice her state of loneliness. This is the most daring family dynamic depicted in a Disney movie in years, which is saying a lot because oftentimes there’s just a single parent with a deceased spouse, which is part of their trademark formula. That being said, you really want this girl to find happiness… and she does with Ulysses, a superpowered squirrel with a huge appetite that she rescues, who inadvertently changes her life forever.
Disney+ movies like Flora & Ulysses and The One and Only Ivan really showcase how far technology has advanced for CG animation in family films. While it’s nothing new or groundbreaking to see a CG animal in a movie, I’d say this beats the childhood movies I had to watch, like Cats & Dogs, Garfield, and even Alvin and the Chipmunks. It has the same effect as Stuart Little or even Enchanted where the animal is within the same frame as the actors and their interactions are believable. For starters, Ulysses doesn’t talk. Instead, he communicates via the typewriter that Flora’s mom uses in order to get his thoughts across to Flora and her family. Whenever he “shares'' the screen with Flora, you really believe she’s interacting with this CG squirrel. Director Lena Khan does a great job at making you feel that Ulysses and Flora are occupying the same space through blocking and shot composition. The CG squirrel is fully detailed and his textures and effects respond extremely well to the environment he’s in. I love how Ulysses retains squirrel-like instincts and physical movements while doing superhero-like actions. I have no idea what the budget was for this movie, but I’m curious to know because it’s clearly not a half-assed project. I’m not saying it’s award-worthy, but it does make you feel as if this squirrel is a Marvel-like superhero. Speaking of, the film starts off by reminding you that Disney owns EVERYONE in Marvel right now as Flora describes the famous Avengers and X-Men she admires while riffing on them.
On the topic of Disney-owned properties, it's funny how Disney hired their internal staff for their cast. Danny Pudi, Ben Schwartz, Bobby Moynihan, and Kate Micucci who voice Huey, Dewey, Louie, and Webby in Ducktales (2017) were snatched from their voice recording booths, along with Alyson Hannigan, and sent to Vancouver to film a movie about a girl and a CG squirrel. Schwartz plays Flora’s dad and Pudi is the central antagonist who works for an animal control agency. I want somebody to draw scenes from this movie but replace the actors with their corresponding character from Ducktales. That said, the cast is charming and fully committed to the script. The performances are so upbeat and charismatic that they truly make the material work. There are times where they have to do some physical comedy and they genuinely make things hysterical. Danny Pudi is having the time of his life as a devious animal control officer who just relishes his work.
This is the first film I’ve seen lead Matilda Lawler in and she gives a fun, high-spirited breakout performance as the titular Flora. She stands on her own with effective line delivery and chemistry with everyone around her, especially with the CG squirrel. Amongst her recognizable and experienced costars, she steps to their level with her own confidence and energy while carrying the film on her shoulders. Flora is already a well-balanced and likable character and Lawler is simply naturally charming.
While there are plenty of positives regarding the film’s direction, animation, and performances, there are a few red flags regarding the screenplay that keep it from elevating beyond average. For a film based on a 2013 book, this movie has the writing of a late ‘90s movie. It starts off as a family film does with several scenes of destructive slapstick that are random and oddly executed. Some of the gags are outdated, like an Aliens visual gag and a brief E.T. visual gag, even using the most obvious ‘90s music cues for comedic purposes.
Some of the comedic material is outdated for a 2021 movie, especially regarding a kid named William Spiver, a blind British kid about Flora’s age who she befriends. Sorry, did I say blind? I mean hysterically blind. I know it’s an outdated term for conversion disorder but the film audibly says the term “hysterically blind” and takes it to heart. Spiver is used as the physical comedic relief and his temporarily blind conditions are used as an excuse to make him fall over things… and he does so quite often. I’m not gonna lie, I laughed because it just comes out of nowhere and everyone’s interactions with him were pretty funny, but man, there was an immediate wave of guilt that followed. Does it make me insensitive to laugh at this blind kid or at how far the writing goes to make him the butt of every joke for absolutely no reason?
Flora & Ulysses might come across as a typical and somewhat mediocre family flick that is a few decades too late in regards to its script, but it also means well and pushes the charming tale of a squirrel who helps a little girl put her broken family back together. It’s a perfect fit on Disney+ and is good enough for a solid family movie night.
