Nov 14, 2022

-- My Father's Dragon - Review Summary: A well-made film for children who fall just short of the lofty standards of the cartoon saloon.

My Father's Dragon, the first animation feature produced for Netflix by Irish animation outfit Cartoon Saloon, landed on platforms around the world last week, so about nora Twomey's latest film (The Breadwinner),

My Father's Dragon currently has an 87% critical score on Rotten Tomatoes. 2009's The Secret of Kells is 90%, Twomey's oscar-nominated Breadwinner is 95%, and Wolfwalkers and Song of The Sea are 99%.

Some critics who made the sound were unhappy with the change in the film's tone and the strangeness of the plot, which saw things too random happen so often.Sometimes, it spoils the immersive feeling. And while many have singled it out as the most "cartoon saloon" feature ever produced by Kilkenny Studios, almost everyone has agreed that the finished product does not lack charm or artistic merit. In fact, almost all the reviews we read were full of praise for the work done by the film's animation team.

Here's a look at what critics had to say:

Amy Nicholson of the New York Times thought the film was a bit uneven, but was impressed by the animation:

The film's mix of tones is as wild as its setting. At one moment, the story can feel pressured to pretend that everything is in control, even if they suspect they are rushing toward catastrophe.; In another example, a decaffeinated whale (Judy Greer) is called "Yaaaaaaaaa.""It's one part Doom Cloud, one part squirting naughty flower - an uneasy balance that is united only by the stunning visuals that sweep along the audience, even if the gag stumbles."

In his review of the Guardian, Benjamin Lee said:

The strangeness of the plot gives the film the quality of a dream breath of heat, which can sometimes feel a little too swaying and scattershot, and is caused by a parade of unlikely celebrity voices cropped throughout. It is made much more surreal by the way. As mentioned, we also get Diane Weist as Rhino, Alan Cumming as Crocodile, Jackie Earle Haley as glasses Monkey, and Leighton Meester as Tiger (it all unintentionally makes for effective stoner viewing). The plot can often feel repetitive and at worst shambolic, but the 2D animation, in which the inventive story comes to life, immerses us and slides through an unusual, thoughtfully structured world.

Guy Lodge At Variety appreciates that these types of children's films exist as an alternative to the big studio fees that often attract attention.

The first collaboration with Netflix, the studio's latest premiere at the London Film Festival, and a global release scheduled for 11-11 - a bit back to the mythological complexity of the latter, but their usual appeal doesn't cost. Explicitly targeted at very young children, it's not dull to the mellow but laid-back narrative and storybook aesthetics, and it's a pleasant correction to the smooth, conceptually high fanaticism of sundries Disney and Pixars, even if it's pinching screenwriter Meg LeFauve (Inside Out, Good Dinosaur) out of the ranks.

Callie Petch of Little White Lies assuaged fears that comic saloons could deviate from what makes them such a unique studio just because they are working on mainstream platforms:

In this regard, and in an overall overall whimsical tone (there's even a pair of honestly God's fart jokes), this is still the most explicitly children's cartoon saloon movie. The cast and screenplay of the all-star celebrity voice by Pixar veteran Meg LeFauve means that their new Netflix distributor tendrils are enticing to wonder if they've got such a singular studio. Such fears are misplaced. Director Nora Tuomey has a strong grasp of the binding nature of the set piece and focuses more on the character work than anything else by reminding other creators in the field.

And Hollywood Reporter David Rooney said that while this may be a low point in the cartoon saloon catalog for adult viewers, children should love it.

The previous features of the cartoon saloon are distinguished by the folk, mythological and ethnographic foundations of their stories, but my father's Dragon will feel more general to an adult audience. But the kids have to travel around the island to face their fears and respond warmly to Elmer and Boris's odyssey in search of answers that will help the dragon find fire and stop the animal's house from sinking.