Luca | Film Review
Adventure. Acceptance. Pasta.
All three are guaranteed to be on your mind after watching Disney and Pixar’s original feature film, Luca, now streaming on Disney Plus.
Luca follows the story of two young sea monsters, Luca and Alberto, as they experience a summer of Vespas, pasta, and adventure. The only problem is that they are spending their summer in a town (Portorosso) that has an acute vendetta against sea monsters, forcing them to hide their true identities from the humans. However, despite the animosity surrounding his kind, Luca finds himself enamored by the world above the surface as he discovers the many wonders of the human world.
Cards on the table: I’m a huge Disney/Pixar nerd. There are days when I’ll park myself on my couch and watch all the 2000s Pixar movies in one sitting because they’re just that good. So, when I found out Pixar was making a new movie featuring sea monsters in a postcard-worthy Italian town, I was pretty excited. And even though my expectations for this film were extremely high, Pixar did not disappoint in delivering the perfect summer movie.
Directed by Academy Award nominee Enrico Casarosa and produced by Andrea Warren, Luca provides the perfect coming of age story for all of us to enjoy as we desperately wish that WE were the ones spending our summer in the authentically crafted town of Portorosso. The stunning animation provides its viewers with a sense of child-like wonderment and nostalgia, setting itself apart from other Pixar classics with its distinct story-book feel. The entire movie appears like a hand-crafted piece of art, matching perfectly the simple and innocent nature of the story. Character designs are another aspect in which Pixar has always excelled, and Luca is no exception. I instantly fell in love with all the characters I saw on the screen because they were all incredibly different while also staying consistent with the hand-painted style of the film. Not to mention that both Luca and Alberto’s sea monster forms are absolutely adorable, vibrant, and mystical.
Along with gorgeous animation, Luca continues Pixar’s tradition of having an amazing story laced with humor and whimsy, bringing out the child in all of us as we watch Luca have wondrous adventures with his friends. However, these scenes are perfectly balanced with distinct emotional beats that will leave some viewers in tears.
Some people, they’ll never accept him. But some will. And he seems to know how to find the good ones – Grandma Paguro, Luca
At its heart, Luca is a fish-out-of-water (haha see what I did there?) story about acceptance and finding people who will embrace you for your differences, all while learning to accept yourself. It also explores the themes of loyalty, friendship, and surmounting obstacles no matter how many people don’t believe that you can prevail. Furthermore, Luca serves as an allegory for those who have to hide their true identities in order to be accepted by society, prompting many members of the LGBTQ+ community to identify with the film. I for one found the film to be incredibly touching (the ending left me with tears in my eyes).
In a world in which summertime joy and worry-free days have not been at the forefront of most people’s minds due to the struggle of a global pandemic, Luca is the film we all needed to remind us of the light at the end of the tunnel. I would highly advise that anyone with a Disney Plus subscription give Luca a watch. Its vibrant animation, touching story, and all-around amazing production make Luca one of Pixar’s most charming movies to date and I could not recommend it enough. Just be warned: you may have an insatiable need for sunny skies, gelato, and fresh pasta by the end of your viewing.
