Stop it Pixar! Just stop it! Even the simplest stories are becoming masterpieces in the hands of Pixar. I don't know how they do it. It doesn't take the emotions risks like an Inside Out or Soul, nor is it a masterpiece of a screenplay like the Toy Story franchise, but boy oh boy I love it. Probably, its biggest flaw is also it's strength. It doesn't try to be the next masterpiece. It's Luca. It's a fun crowd pleaser with the typical Pixar emotional moments. It doesn't brake boundaries, but that's okay for me. For what it is, it's perfect! The story is sweet, and the characters are charming and lovely with real development. Yes, the story is a little predictable at times, but it doesn't bother the story much for me. I also love that the villain is the complete opposite of a twist villain. From the moment he pops on screen, you know he's the baddy, and he fits the movie very well. What makes this movie stand out, are the visuals. Holy crap, this movie is gorgeous! Literally the most beautiful movie I've seen this year so far. Also, the score, holy crap. Everything fits with the beautiful country that is Italy. I already know a lot of people will think it fits too much in the Pixar formula, but what can I see. The formula works, so why change it. It has his flaws, and it probably is not the next Pixar masterpiece, but it does work perfectly for what it is.
711 Reviews
Slight but most enjoyable.
planktonrules17 November 2021
"Luca" isn't one of the deeper Pixar releases but it did have one thing that made it stand out for me...I liked it. The characters were enjoyable and the story, though simple, was delightful.
The plot is actually much like Disney's "The Little Mermaid". It's about some undersea creatures much like Selkies from Norse mythology...though the story is set in Italy. Luca is one of these creatures and although he doesn't know it, like a Selkie, he can turn human when he leaves the water. At first, he's scared when he discovers this, but when he meets Alberto, another such creature who has chosen to live on land, the pair become friends and soon go to the town of Portorosso. There, they make friends with Giulia as well as meet the town bully and all around jerk, Ercole. What's next? See the film.
Slight is definitely the word for this film. But its sweetness and characters made it a hit for me...and I nearly gave it a 9. Well worth seeing and a story with a nice message.
The plot is actually much like Disney's "The Little Mermaid". It's about some undersea creatures much like Selkies from Norse mythology...though the story is set in Italy. Luca is one of these creatures and although he doesn't know it, like a Selkie, he can turn human when he leaves the water. At first, he's scared when he discovers this, but when he meets Alberto, another such creature who has chosen to live on land, the pair become friends and soon go to the town of Portorosso. There, they make friends with Giulia as well as meet the town bully and all around jerk, Ercole. What's next? See the film.
Slight is definitely the word for this film. But its sweetness and characters made it a hit for me...and I nearly gave it a 9. Well worth seeing and a story with a nice message.
Calamari by your name
thomasbgleeson19 June 2021
Beautiful animation and a story of live and friendship. This is a wonderful film with a somewhat predictable plot but at a short runtime, it's a pleasure to spend time in this universe. Appeals to all ages and has a unique story telling perspective.
Somehow reminds me of a good old Pixar times!
todaronki17 June 2021
Such a good story! Honest, Kind and simply Intelligent! Nothing irrelevant, nothing boring or whatever what makes people upset about any movie. Great plot and characters, lots of valuable significations. Also, good fun, not like a lot of jokes, but when they come - it's right at the point. Moreover, lots of pleasurable warm summer feelings. And yeah, I'm here not to glorify a motion picture, I'm here since I liked and enjoyed it fully and truthfully.
"Well kaka" :)
"Well kaka" :)
Beautifully made, but...
dennisvankekem24 January 2022
Sadly enough It's the same old Disney formula that we are used to, for some reason Disney/Pixar keep churning out these beautifully crafted pieces of animated art with the most wild and unique settings but somehow keep opting for the most predictable and cliche storytelling in their arsenal.
And yes, you can have the argument that it is a movie primarily focussed for kids, but I'd say that's not an excuse to keep coming back to the same cookie cutter storyline. Not every Disney movie needs to be about friendship and acceptance.
Having that said the movie is still beautifully made and even makes you crack a smile at times. I love the Italian setting they went for and the voice action is superb. I especially liked the voice acting of Giulia done by Emma Berman.
It's a fun lighthearted movie, but that's about it. I'd still recommend it if you just want to sit back and relax or of course to watch with your children.
7/10, if you play it safe, you will never stand out.
Oh, and I loved the cat.
And yes, you can have the argument that it is a movie primarily focussed for kids, but I'd say that's not an excuse to keep coming back to the same cookie cutter storyline. Not every Disney movie needs to be about friendship and acceptance.
Having that said the movie is still beautifully made and even makes you crack a smile at times. I love the Italian setting they went for and the voice action is superb. I especially liked the voice acting of Giulia done by Emma Berman.
It's a fun lighthearted movie, but that's about it. I'd still recommend it if you just want to sit back and relax or of course to watch with your children.
7/10, if you play it safe, you will never stand out.
Oh, and I loved the cat.
I have really enjoyed it (and I come from there)!
paolofurlotti-0859618 June 2021
Coming from a place which is very close to Cinque Terre (where the imaginary Porto Rosso is meant to be part of) I watched the movie with a lot of expectations: well I must say that I have really enjoyed it: the story is nice, the main characters are enjoyable and both the location and the scenery have been well described (assuming we are talking about the '60s).
The soundtrack in the Italian version of the movie was very nice as well.
Well done Pixar!
The soundtrack in the Italian version of the movie was very nice as well.
Well done Pixar!
Have a good cry
AndreaWeaver122 February 2022
This movie is so beautiful to watch, the colors and textures are outstanding. Everything about this film is heartwarming and poignant. Of course I cried when I watched it, I have a soul. Music? 100%. Message? 100%. Visuals? 100%. Kids and adults can watch this and appreciate something about it.
Adorable child and adult friendly film
ofersheffer17 June 2021
Just got out of a showing at the first day of screening of this film at a cinema in Israel with my family. Firstly, this film is perfectly made on the technical side. Everything looks beautiful and fully immerses you into the world created as if it were real. Underwater shots as well as shots of the city. The story is not completely unique, a "fish out of water", a story of a character learning and developing -- overcoming adversity as well as self doubt. A classic worth telling and it is a good feel good story with well defined characters, each helping the story move along. I think emotionally, this story gives a lot of things to think about and the communication between characters, Luca and his friends, are very well written and very believable even though we're dealing where the fantasy part (becoming a "sea monster") is an occurrence. If I have to nit-pick, I would say that the film on one hand shows that dangerous things could be dangers but also that it is important to confront your fears -- perhaps in an instance or two it might have been good to add a band-aid or something to make it slightly clearer that a character went a little too far. Overall, though, this is not an issue to worry about. I don't think any kid is going to jump off a cliff because of this movie and I definitely recommend it to anyone looking for good character building with an arc. It is not Shawshank, or Empire of the Sun, but it is a lovely movie. Very happy this was my first film-house visit after the pandemic.
Refreshing Animated film
rish200617 June 2021
Pretty average, but interestingly stylized film
jcmark-6672528 June 2021
Disney rehashes pretty obvious story elements from its other oceanic based films The Little Mermaid and Moana as well as The Fox & The Hound; there just isn't much novelty to the story. While I love the actors involved (Jack Dylan Grazer really shines as one of Disney's most seamlessly funny comic relief characters), they did a much worse job than a film like Coco of blending languages in a way that is both appealing and purposeful, especially with the choice of American actors.
While the film has some fun Studio Ghibli vibes in the style, it takes a half-baked approach to doing a more foreign style film because they still want to appeal heavily to their U. S. base audience. I love the director's work in this project, especially as the one whose personal life heavily influenced the interesting summer friendship dynamic. The design of the movie is pretty great, but the overly simple plot and overtly familiar story trends make it more narrowly appealing to a much younger audience than it could have been. It carries the extraordinarily dumbed down adult trope to a level I haven't seen since 90s Nickelodeon. While the aim seems to be to promote a theme of nondiscriminatory inclusivity, the simplistic nature of the film mostly serves to dampen a lot of credibility to the motivations of its characters.
I have read comments from people elsewhere that they were unsure of the film's quality within the first 10 minutes, but soon came around to really enjoying it. However, the awkward and rushed start can definitely serve as an off-putting exposition that doesn't draw the viewer into the story.
While the film has some fun Studio Ghibli vibes in the style, it takes a half-baked approach to doing a more foreign style film because they still want to appeal heavily to their U. S. base audience. I love the director's work in this project, especially as the one whose personal life heavily influenced the interesting summer friendship dynamic. The design of the movie is pretty great, but the overly simple plot and overtly familiar story trends make it more narrowly appealing to a much younger audience than it could have been. It carries the extraordinarily dumbed down adult trope to a level I haven't seen since 90s Nickelodeon. While the aim seems to be to promote a theme of nondiscriminatory inclusivity, the simplistic nature of the film mostly serves to dampen a lot of credibility to the motivations of its characters.
I have read comments from people elsewhere that they were unsure of the film's quality within the first 10 minutes, but soon came around to really enjoying it. However, the awkward and rushed start can definitely serve as an off-putting exposition that doesn't draw the viewer into the story.
Santa Mozzarella 🤣 Thank you Pixar
Nodarisan20 June 2021
Pixar in Italy
TheLittleSongbird27 May 2022
Have loved Pixar for years, well ever since seeing the first two 'Toy Story' films and 'A Bug's Life' when they first came out. Pre-2010 their films were consistently never less than very good and their best efforts outstanding. Pixar did start to vary post-2010, especially in the sequels, but the past seven years or so has seen some of their best work in 'Inside Out', 'Coco' and 'Soul'. Did like the concept for 'Luca', even if it was not a creative one.
'Luca' turned out to be very, very charming and very high quality. It is not one of Pixar's best films by all means, other films of theirs are more creative conceptually and deeper and more complex emotionally and is not as good as their previous two films 'Soul' and 'Onward'. At the same time, there is more than enough to 'Luca' to stop it from being lesser Pixar, a list that includes most of the sequels post-2010 and 'The Good Dinosaur'.
There is not an awful lot that is wrong with 'Luca'. It is very slight and takes its time to get going.
Also thought that the portrayal of the bullies was overdone and on the stereotypical side.
On the other hand, the animation is stunning. Especially the vibrant colours and beautiful Italian landscapes, while the characters expressions and movements are nuanced and natural. The music is a nice mix of stirringly upbeat and poignant-sounding in the quieter moments. As well as having an affectionately Italianate sound. The script is smart and knows its target audience without trying too hard to appeal to them or anybody outside it. The humour is genuinely amusing, while there is plenty of heart without being too sentimental.
While the story is slight and not perfectly paced, it makes great nostalgic use of the Italian setting and doesn't resort too much to cultural stereotyping. Appreciated its handling of the messaging too, the messages are great and relatable ones that have a lot of resonance and relevance that could easily have been preachy but not once does the messages of loyalty, friendship and respect feel forced or condescending. There are plenty of sight gags that come thick and fast and they are genuinely funny, but there is a warm heart and poignancy too. Particularly in the friendship between the three leads. The characters are worth engaging with, only the bullies don't quite come off, while the climax has plenty of excitement. The voice acting is dynamic and emotive with the accents not coming over as too stereotyped.
In conclusion, very good. 8/10.
'Luca' turned out to be very, very charming and very high quality. It is not one of Pixar's best films by all means, other films of theirs are more creative conceptually and deeper and more complex emotionally and is not as good as their previous two films 'Soul' and 'Onward'. At the same time, there is more than enough to 'Luca' to stop it from being lesser Pixar, a list that includes most of the sequels post-2010 and 'The Good Dinosaur'.
There is not an awful lot that is wrong with 'Luca'. It is very slight and takes its time to get going.
Also thought that the portrayal of the bullies was overdone and on the stereotypical side.
On the other hand, the animation is stunning. Especially the vibrant colours and beautiful Italian landscapes, while the characters expressions and movements are nuanced and natural. The music is a nice mix of stirringly upbeat and poignant-sounding in the quieter moments. As well as having an affectionately Italianate sound. The script is smart and knows its target audience without trying too hard to appeal to them or anybody outside it. The humour is genuinely amusing, while there is plenty of heart without being too sentimental.
While the story is slight and not perfectly paced, it makes great nostalgic use of the Italian setting and doesn't resort too much to cultural stereotyping. Appreciated its handling of the messaging too, the messages are great and relatable ones that have a lot of resonance and relevance that could easily have been preachy but not once does the messages of loyalty, friendship and respect feel forced or condescending. There are plenty of sight gags that come thick and fast and they are genuinely funny, but there is a warm heart and poignancy too. Particularly in the friendship between the three leads. The characters are worth engaging with, only the bullies don't quite come off, while the climax has plenty of excitement. The voice acting is dynamic and emotive with the accents not coming over as too stereotyped.
In conclusion, very good. 8/10.
Luca Review
theredsky26 June 2021
Cute at the moment but ultimately forgettable. Luca is another big step in terms of visuals for Pixar. The movie looks and sounds absolutely phenomenal. This, Soul, and Coco are probably the best looking Pixar films ever. The score is really fun and works well with the film and the sound design is phenomenal. However, I can't let the animation blind me to the fact that the story and characters are very subpar. Luca and Alberto have good voice actors doing a good job with the material but their character development is thin and generic for a Pixar movie. I don't remember a whole lot about their characters other than they are fish people. All of the other characters felt one note especially the villain who is awful. The villain has absolutely no development, motivation, or interesting backstory compared to any other Pixar film and it sucks because Pixar has cranked out some fantastic villains. This story feels very generic and has very low stakes. There isn't anything wrong with a low stakes story but it needs to have a solid story built around it and this doesn't really have a solid story. Events just kinda happen and they form a story but there isn't anything deeper than that. It has some good themes of acceptance and belonging but they feel one note and not explored enough. I ultimately found myself getting bored at points which usually doesn't happen with Pixar. While Luca can excel in its visuals, music, sound design, and voice acting, it ultimately doesn't have a lot more to offer than that. If you like Pixar then check this out but don't expect it to be the next Ratatouille.
Love it!
lesbians4luisa3 February 2022
I love this movie so much!
Bubba3261818 June 2021
I absolutely loved Luca so much! The characters are fantastic! I loved Luca as a character and all of the characters are fantastic love all of them, expect for the villain. The villain is pretty weak. The plot is simple but fantastic. I love the whole Italian esthetic so much. Luca's parents are some of my favorite characters in this film. The film is kind of slow at the beginning but once they reach the town which is named after the Studio Ghibli movie Porco Rosso, the film really really picks up. The ending at the train station was one of the best Pixar movie endings ever and I loved it because I cared about the relationship between Luca and Alberto. I loved the ending and it made me sad but happy at the same time. The film looks absolutely beautiful like most Pixar movies but I thought that the entire film looks just beautiful. I just love that this film takes place in Italy. Luca is amazing and I loved every second of it. Please see Luca!
It hit pretty different when you are at the age.
ariqakbar19 June 2021
As always, today animation cartoon always bring so much great details.
The story it self was great for me, they cover all of the aspect, bravery, comfort zone, friendship, a little bit parenting. The story succeed every-time they try to make this movie seems have increase tentions, they close it with a good portion of fun. Luca and Alberto shows all we been through with our best friend, separate. But, its not always a bad thing.
That last scene also have powerfull feels. Good job, really good job.
The story it self was great for me, they cover all of the aspect, bravery, comfort zone, friendship, a little bit parenting. The story succeed every-time they try to make this movie seems have increase tentions, they close it with a good portion of fun. Luca and Alberto shows all we been through with our best friend, separate. But, its not always a bad thing.
That last scene also have powerfull feels. Good job, really good job.
Amazing graphics and setting, poor story
marcobrcc15 July 2021
The graphics and the landscapes are amazing. The staging of the Cinque Terre is perfect. Having been there several times, I can assure that everything is spot on.
Having said that, I found the story unconvincing and predictable. The most interesting character (the antagonist, Ercole) is not described in depth; devoting more time to him, his two buddies and their motives could have made the movie better. The same could have been done for Alberto and the relationship with Luca. Where does Alberto come from? For most of the movie, scene after scene, the focus is the two protagonists trying to escape water not to be discovered and this gets boring very soon. On the other hand very little time is devoted to the final competition itself. The last part seems rushed and leaves you underwhelmed. The concept itself of these sea creatures becoming humans didn't impress me.
Overall the movie has great animation skills, amazing artistic qualities but sadly a poor story.
Having said that, I found the story unconvincing and predictable. The most interesting character (the antagonist, Ercole) is not described in depth; devoting more time to him, his two buddies and their motives could have made the movie better. The same could have been done for Alberto and the relationship with Luca. Where does Alberto come from? For most of the movie, scene after scene, the focus is the two protagonists trying to escape water not to be discovered and this gets boring very soon. On the other hand very little time is devoted to the final competition itself. The last part seems rushed and leaves you underwhelmed. The concept itself of these sea creatures becoming humans didn't impress me.
Overall the movie has great animation skills, amazing artistic qualities but sadly a poor story.
Very novel concept, excellent and entertaining animated feature.
TxMike12 March 2022
This story is set at the coastline of Italy. The concept is, if these fish go onto land they transition from their fish form into what appears to be a human form. So a young fish, tired of the rules of his parents, goes on land and meets a similar young fish, but both of them take the forms of young boys.
There are a number of interesting elements, most surrounding a yearly race, and the two young fish converts befriended a young red-haired girl.
The story gets enough complex that it is hard to describe in a few words, but the writing and animation teams did a superb job of pulling it all together and keeping it interesting.
My wife and I watched it at home, on DVD from our public library, and we laughter often. In total it is just a super entertaining animated feature.
There are a number of interesting elements, most surrounding a yearly race, and the two young fish converts befriended a young red-haired girl.
The story gets enough complex that it is hard to describe in a few words, but the writing and animation teams did a superb job of pulling it all together and keeping it interesting.
My wife and I watched it at home, on DVD from our public library, and we laughter often. In total it is just a super entertaining animated feature.
Pixar goes to Italy
ramo14018 June 2021
The animation is stunning and the scenery is gorgeous. It is a simple story (I don't see why some people are really disappointed by that) but beautifully done. The characters are really really interesting and I would love to see more of this world.
Best Pixar Movie since Coco
suntenastescualex21 January 2022
It's a hard decision even if you compare it with Coco. And I consider it the best animated movie of 2021. The story is cool, the animations are amazing, and the fact that this movie is showing us a lot about Italian culture (same with Coco about Mexican culture) is making the movie much more better. And the music is just AMAZING 👏
Not Pixar's typical best
mr_bickle_the_pickle18 June 2021
This is a Pixar film that just didnt really captivate me as much as others. Which isnt to say it was bad. Just kind of a basic story. Boy wants something more out of life. Adventure. Freedom from their hum drum day to day. Its the same thing we have seen before like The Little Mermaid (which is also about a underwater creature) or Beauty and the Beast for example. And I just dont feel like this film did anything really different to make this theme feel fresh. Again, not bad. Just kind of basic.
I did really like Luca and Alberto though. I think they were super cute together. I thought the character Giulia was ok. She had an annoying catchphrase though. "Santa Mozzarella" or "Santa Ricotta" or basically anything cheese. Im sure the writers thought it was cute or funny, but to me it just came off that they didnt know any genuine italian phrases so they just wrote some italian cheeses and want "Good enough". And I dont feel like the film really has any other memorable side characters. I mean the parents were fine - but like a lot of parent characters. As I said...just not super memorable. For me, its Luca and Alberto that really shine and make this movie. Which is a good thing since they are focus of the movie/story.
The animation is beautiful as well - but its Pixar so what else do you expect? And the setting was beautiful too. It really makes me want to go to Italy and have a big bowl of pasta. I really felt transported to that world.
I'll give the film a 7, cause a 6 or lower feels wrong to me. Its definitely not a bad film. Its good for the family. But I was a little disappointed. So I think 7 is fair.
I did really like Luca and Alberto though. I think they were super cute together. I thought the character Giulia was ok. She had an annoying catchphrase though. "Santa Mozzarella" or "Santa Ricotta" or basically anything cheese. Im sure the writers thought it was cute or funny, but to me it just came off that they didnt know any genuine italian phrases so they just wrote some italian cheeses and want "Good enough". And I dont feel like the film really has any other memorable side characters. I mean the parents were fine - but like a lot of parent characters. As I said...just not super memorable. For me, its Luca and Alberto that really shine and make this movie. Which is a good thing since they are focus of the movie/story.
The animation is beautiful as well - but its Pixar so what else do you expect? And the setting was beautiful too. It really makes me want to go to Italy and have a big bowl of pasta. I really felt transported to that world.
I'll give the film a 7, cause a 6 or lower feels wrong to me. Its definitely not a bad film. Its good for the family. But I was a little disappointed. So I think 7 is fair.
Pixar Does It Again, This Time In Italy
johnnyhbtvs2713 February 2022
Luca is a beautiful looking film as one would come to expect from Pixar. I thought the idea of the story with fish becoming human on land was a great idea and pixar do well in making you care about the characters. The ending is both a sad and joyful moment and it's crazy to think Pixar can still get those kind of emotions from you after all these years. 24 movies in and Pixar have barely put a foot wrong (bar the occasional unnecessary sequel) and here they have another great movie.
Pixar nails Italian stereotypes...
Stevie_Deee20 June 2021
As someone who was born in Italy and has lived in Mexico, I was hoping Luca would be to Italy what Coco was to Mexico. Coco nailed the Mexican culture in a vibrant, magical and respectful way and it was loved there. Luca brought out tired Italian stereotypes that weren't flattering. Wish someone would explain to me why none of the title characters are of Italian background. And the exclamations that come out of their mouths - "Santa Gorgonzola" (Saint Gorgonzola), really???
This wasn't a bad movie, but it left me grinding my teeth throughout at the portrayal. Sad to say that this was the first Pixar movie that has let me down.
This wasn't a bad movie, but it left me grinding my teeth throughout at the portrayal. Sad to say that this was the first Pixar movie that has let me down.
Warming tale of friendship
briancham199419 June 2021
This film is nothing we haven't seen before. The premise will strike many as a literal fish-out-of-water story along the lines of The Little Mermaid, with an art style somewhere between Hayao Miyazaki and Hotel Transylvania. The setting is true to life, the animation is sparkling winh reflective details and the plot moments are comedic and add up to a compelling quest. However, the true strength of this film lies in the nostalgic dynamic between the protagonist friends, one an anxious introvert and the other an energetic thrill seeker. Together, they have fun, learn from each other and push each other's boundaries to achieve new and great things. It's a true testament to the power of friendship that exceeds its derivative premise.
Ok but didn't hold the audience
amcdalton722 February 2022
I put this on for my son to watch and it was good but it didn't hold his attention and soon he didn't want to watch it.
The film its self was made beautifully and the storyline was good very interesting but it didn't capture the audience it was intended for thats why I have it a lower score.
The film its self was made beautifully and the storyline was good very interesting but it didn't capture the audience it was intended for thats why I have it a lower score.
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