Luca: an uneven Pixar but one that does not demerit!

Directed by Enrico Casarosa, Luca is the latest addition to Pixar Studios. Initially planned for cinemas, Disney studios preferred to release the work on their streaming platform this Friday, June 18. This 24th opus from Pixar studios takes place in a small Italian town near the sea. The story follows the fate of Luca, a sea monster who desires to discover the world of humans. With Luca, Enrico Casarosa signs his very first feature film, but he has been with the Pixar team for years. He has notably taken care of the storyboards of Ratatouille, Coco or Toy Story 4 and even directed the short film La Luna.  

Luca: a timid start

Let's be clear from the start, Luca is far from being the best film from Pixar Studios. It may even be one of their least successful (if we put the Cars saga aside). Enrico Casarosa signs a fairly classic adventure, which takes up the themes common to the genre, namely the acceptance of oneself and the other, the surpassing of oneself, the discovery, the apology of travel and curiosity. Once again, Pixar studios serve us the classic recipe of " not being afraid of the world and facing it" ! Thus, the first part of Luca is quite disappointing. The filmmaker offers a rather childish approach, with humor often surprisingly low-end. Emotions, strong elements of Pixar productions, are non-existent. Similarly, the film suffers from an antagonist too weak, and too caricatured to worry. And then the concept is still very reminiscent of The Shape of Water… In short, a first half of film well below the usual quality of the studio.

The film takes off in its second part

Luckily for fans of the Pixar universe, the film takes off for its second half. After a timid beginning, Luca finds his tempo, tone and rhythm. The feature film succeeds more in convincing. The characters gain efficiency and interest, and the emotional springs finally awaken. Pixar's own sensibility gains in efficiency and accuracy. And while we thought we were in front of a bad Pixar, Enrico Casarosa has a burst of creativity , and as always, the public is conquered. While we thought we would resist for once the power of Pixar, the touching ending, specific to the studio, hits the mark, and will tear the usual tears of the most sensitive. Once again, Pixar hits where it hurts, and offers a truly heartbreaking farewell. Thus, after a wobbly beginning, Luca manages to convey his emotion, and can thus boast of being part of the Pixar family! https://youtu.be/RA4s_BgzFII