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In 2010, Tim Burton directed his live-action Alice in Wonderland, inspired by Disney’s 1951 classic. The film’s overwhelming success kicked off a live-action remake trend. And now, for Disney’s Dumbo remake, Burton returns to put his own spin on another beloved classic.
Dumbo reimagines Disney’s classic tale with a troop of performers in a struggling circus. By the time former circus star Holt Farrier (Colin Farrell) returns from the war, he’s lost an arm, his wife, and his beloved horses. Circus master Max Medici (Danny DeVito) puts him in charge of the elephants—including newcomer Mrs. Jumbo and her soon-to-be-born baby elephant. When the baby is born with comically huge ears, Max is determined to get his money back. But after Holt’s children discover the baby’s amazing talent, it changes everything for the Medici Bros. Circus.
Disney’s animated Dumbo told a sweet, simple story about a lovable outsider who triumphs in the end. It’s cute and cartoony and, at just 64 minutes long, it’s one of Disney’s shortest animated features. So in turning the classic into something longer and live-action, Burton and writer Ehren Kruger definitely had their work cut out for them. And they set out to create something as fun and colorful and heartwarming as the original—yet with human characters and a more developed story.
Stylistically, Dumbo isn’t nearly as over-the-top as Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, but it still has his signature style: the quirky characters, the imaginative settings, the use of color. From the muted color palette of the traveling circus to the grand spectacle of the New York City amusement park where the characters later find a home, it’s all inventive and eye-catching. And many of the characters—from the circus performers to Michael Keaton’s suave entrepreneur V. A. Vandervere—have their own eccentric style and personalities.
Still, this wouldn’t be a Tim Burton movie without some dark drama—and Dumbo opens with a pretty heavy setup. The original Dumbo was heartbreakingly separated from his mother, and this one is not only separated from his mother but he’s also befriended by a couple of kids who have lost their mother and are living with a dejected father who’s been forced to give up on his on his dream. It’s certainly dreary—and while the film does have its uplifting moments, it never really shakes that heaviness.
One thing, however, remains the same here: little Dumbo steals the show. While many of the characters fall flat, this extraordinary elephant is well-deserving of his place in the spotlight. Unfortunately, that’s a whole lot of pressure to place on one baby pachyderm, and he struggles to carry the film. But no matter how heavy things may get, he always manages to bring a little magic back to the story.
If you loved the circus setting and lovable flying elephant of Disney’s animated Dumbo, the remake is worth a look. But it lacks the energy, the memorable characters, and the strong story that would make it a must-see.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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