Though 'The One And Only Ivan (2020)' initially seems to skew quite young with its CG animal cast and to-camera narration, it eventually becomes a relatively nuanced exploration of the ethics of animal captivity. Is freedom worth trading for security? How free can you be from within a cage? Is it wrong to keep an animal out of the wild, even if it's loved and given all the care it needs? These questions are all brought up over the course of the breezy but unconventionally paced piece, with their never-as-simple-as-they-seem answers being left largely for the viewer to decipher. Along the way, the flick charms with its subtle but warm voice-work and its impressively integrated special effects. It isn't mind-blowing, but it's generally enjoyable and much more interesting than you may expect. It's a good movie. 6/10
117 Reviews
A genuinely nice family movie
brentcollyer29 August 2020
A very charming true story!
ReliableReview13 September 2020
This is a very sweet story about an ape in captivity who lived for years in a shopping mall performing circus acts and he learns to paint and dreams of freedom where he can roam in the wild. The animals are friends and talk to one another and worry as business goes downhill with declining attendance. They embark on a courageous escape only to realize the wild isn't quite what they imagined. The CGI is well done as it looks realistic and the voice acting is fantastic as well. Overall the story is endearing especially as it's a true story.
The book was magical
spenser-0416728 March 2021
As a teen I would not recommend this film to another teen or adult. Disney is kind of just doing the same thing they always do (which they do well don't get me wrong). The book on the other hand, while geared toward younger audiences is something I could get behind anytime at all. What made the book so special was the way Applegate was able to write from the perspective of a gorilla. It was brilliant and I now realize that there was little hope of a movie being able to achieve the same thing. I watched this film because it was nominated for best visual effects this year and I was not disappointed on that front at all. Overall this is a good film to watch with a young person unfamiliar with the ways of Disney, but certainly read the book first.
Perfect for kids
lucafarina12 April 2021
It is an emotional story that every family can watch. Even if the screenplay is a bit weak and some characters are boring, after all is nice and interesting.
Special effects are amazing! Animals look real!
My rating is 7.
Special effects are amazing! Animals look real!
My rating is 7.
Kids will like it :)
ToxicLuci28 August 2020
This movie has a simple and plain story nothing extraordinary it is inspired from a true movie. The animations are good but feels short to make u feel the emotions involved. Overall weak storyline.
Kids will like it but the movie is very basic for adults
Decent Execution
praveenji8924 August 2020
My kids never looked away!
stevens81340330029 September 2020
I'm 43yrs old and Lord knows I've seen it all in my day. With that said this is the best movie to come out in a long time for kids.
My kids sat down and watch the entire movie without losing interest.
The best party of my experience with this movie it kept my kids talking about it after the movie was over.
A few days later they wanted to watch it again.
Great job Disney!
Based on true story
hebsi-712857 June 2021
questions support
Kirpianuscus12 January 2021
A film with a large target. From animal lovers, to kids and fans of the actors. A film, a touching one, who did not look for impress< its simplicity and the fine hybrid action are the basic virtues defining it. Each proposing more questions, as support of fair reflection about rights of animals , about friendship, about business . The balance is a good point too. But, maybe, the best thing is the familiarity of story. You know it . You know Ivan, grace to documentaries, articles or news. But the film is not remember, only a simple story telling about small things who are, together, always, in each period, real, real significant.
A Fine Movie with a Message
Neon_Gold29 March 2021
It's a kids movie through and through but it does have a little bit of heart buried under it all.
It deals with topics like animal captivity in a digestible way for children but also in a way that may make an adult think too.
The voice acting is fine but I feel like a lot of characters were very under baked.
The CG is good...it sound so stupid because they are talking animals but it just didn't seem real. It's hard to explain you just have to sort of see it for your self. They look like real animals but they are just that little bit off. And I get it that they are not going for a nature documentary but it was just like a little bit distracting. It sounds so nit picky but you might know what I mean if you watch it.
Other than that it was a perfectly fine movie.
It deals with topics like animal captivity in a digestible way for children but also in a way that may make an adult think too.
The voice acting is fine but I feel like a lot of characters were very under baked.
The CG is good...it sound so stupid because they are talking animals but it just didn't seem real. It's hard to explain you just have to sort of see it for your self. They look like real animals but they are just that little bit off. And I get it that they are not going for a nature documentary but it was just like a little bit distracting. It sounds so nit picky but you might know what I mean if you watch it.
Other than that it was a perfectly fine movie.
I thought it would be kinda corny, and for a time it was...BUT...
bheadher3 April 2021
Warning: Spoilers
A heart warming story that you actually have to watch close to feel that warmth...I don't have young kids anymore, so I watched this just for the heck of it...
Don't expect it to be an adult film, but if you watch closely you might just find your youth again...
Like I did...
Don't expect it to be an adult film, but if you watch closely you might just find your youth again...
Like I did...
Ideal for family viewing
r96sk20 November 2020
Nothing all that fresh, but it certainly made me feel for the characters so that's always a big plus.
The cast elevate the film, for sure! Bryan Cranston, no matter the nature of any role he plays, is always enjoyable and/or likeable. He brings heart as Mack, as do Sam Rockwell (Ivan) and Angelina Jolie (Stella). I liked Danny DeVito as Bob, while Ariana Greenblatt portrays the wholesome Julia well.
The (true) premise is something we've all seen before, as such you're just waiting for the 'penny to drop' so the film can get going - once that happens onscreen events do improve, culminating in a very touching end. 'The One and Only Ivan' is ideal for family viewing, I'd say.
The cast elevate the film, for sure! Bryan Cranston, no matter the nature of any role he plays, is always enjoyable and/or likeable. He brings heart as Mack, as do Sam Rockwell (Ivan) and Angelina Jolie (Stella). I liked Danny DeVito as Bob, while Ariana Greenblatt portrays the wholesome Julia well.
The (true) premise is something we've all seen before, as such you're just waiting for the 'penny to drop' so the film can get going - once that happens onscreen events do improve, culminating in a very touching end. 'The One and Only Ivan' is ideal for family viewing, I'd say.
Animalsno need to be an attraction in a mall = to make people laugh.
orenh9915 October 2021
I give a number of stars like this: the reason is that it hurts to have to make a film about human error, their attitude to nature, contempt. Just the end of the movie is nice, animals of this kind, no need to be an attraction in the mall = to make people laugh and it's time for it to be understood, and clear.
Really good
masonsaul30 December 2020
The One and Only Ivan is a really good film that's fun and heartwarming, if too formulaic. Sam Rockwell and Bryan Cranston are both great and essentially carry the film with some solid emotional weight. Brooklyn Prince, Danny DeVito and Ariana Greenblatt are all really good. The CG is impressively detailed and Thea Sharrock's direction is really good. It's well filmed and the music by Craig Armstrong is good.
Touching
kelly-gaudreau18 April 2021
Life as a chimp
TheLittleSongbird13 May 2022
Saw 'The One and Only Ivan' when it first came out on Disney Plus, so a while back (have been behind with my reviewing hence the delay). My main reasons being my love for Disney (especially the Golden Age and Renaissance animated films), the circus being a nostalgic setting, liking animals and for the cast (humans and voices). It really is hard to go wrong with Bryan Cranston, Sam Rockwell and Danny DeVito, and they are just a few names involved.
'The One and Only Ivan' turned out to be a nice and well done family film, that is just right tonally for children and with enough for adults to enjoy too. Really liked its sincerity and it's all well crafted with nothing faring disastrously, but it does fall short of being exceptional. When it comes to live action Disney, there has been better but also a lot worse as well. 'The One and Only Ivan' may not have been the best film released during the pandemic, but it is around solid middle.
It is formulaic and also slight story-wise with not much new, the slightly too neat ending can be seen from some way off as well as the on the rushed side lead up to it.
Occasionally, the sentimentality gets a bit much (didn't think the coda was needed) and momentum drags towards the end.
However, a lot is good and there is so much to recommend. It is a good looking film, with a very vibrant circus setting filmed with accomplishment. Best of all are the beautifully realised photo-realistic look for the animals with there being absolutely nothing fake about them. The music is rousing but also gently luscious while the direction keeps things moving along quite nicely on the whole. The script flows well and avoids being cheesy or mawkish.
While the story is nothing new and imperfect pace-wise, there is a real charm and poignancy to it (especially with Stella, the consequences of her ageing are handled very movingly) and the gentle pace generally works in its favour. The circus setting is suitably exciting, risk taking and vibrant and the acts make the jaw drop. The true story-like element of the story is interesting and educational as well as emotionally investable (the credits sequence was beautifully done) and target audience (the whole family, not just children) is never in question.
The cast is very good, Cranston is very authoritative and Ariana Greenblatt is winning as Julia. Even better are the voice cast, Rockwell of course voices with a lot of nuanced charisma in the title role and other standouts are sassy DeVito and classy Angelina Jolie. Ruby also is absolutely adorable.
In summary, nice charming film if not mind-blowing. 7/10.
'The One and Only Ivan' turned out to be a nice and well done family film, that is just right tonally for children and with enough for adults to enjoy too. Really liked its sincerity and it's all well crafted with nothing faring disastrously, but it does fall short of being exceptional. When it comes to live action Disney, there has been better but also a lot worse as well. 'The One and Only Ivan' may not have been the best film released during the pandemic, but it is around solid middle.
It is formulaic and also slight story-wise with not much new, the slightly too neat ending can be seen from some way off as well as the on the rushed side lead up to it.
Occasionally, the sentimentality gets a bit much (didn't think the coda was needed) and momentum drags towards the end.
However, a lot is good and there is so much to recommend. It is a good looking film, with a very vibrant circus setting filmed with accomplishment. Best of all are the beautifully realised photo-realistic look for the animals with there being absolutely nothing fake about them. The music is rousing but also gently luscious while the direction keeps things moving along quite nicely on the whole. The script flows well and avoids being cheesy or mawkish.
While the story is nothing new and imperfect pace-wise, there is a real charm and poignancy to it (especially with Stella, the consequences of her ageing are handled very movingly) and the gentle pace generally works in its favour. The circus setting is suitably exciting, risk taking and vibrant and the acts make the jaw drop. The true story-like element of the story is interesting and educational as well as emotionally investable (the credits sequence was beautifully done) and target audience (the whole family, not just children) is never in question.
The cast is very good, Cranston is very authoritative and Ariana Greenblatt is winning as Julia. Even better are the voice cast, Rockwell of course voices with a lot of nuanced charisma in the title role and other standouts are sassy DeVito and classy Angelina Jolie. Ruby also is absolutely adorable.
In summary, nice charming film if not mind-blowing. 7/10.
based on a true story
SnoopyStyle29 August 2020
Silverback guerilla Ivan (Sam Rockwell) grew up with his human trainer Mack (Bryan Cranston) who has built an animal circus show in a shopping mall. Stella (Angelina Jolie) is an old female elephant. Ivan has a pet dog (Danny DeVito) which sneaks into his cage all the time. The show is struggling with small crowds until Mack brings in a baby elephant from a defunct circus.
This is an anthropomorphic animal feel-good movie inspired by a true story. I really like the story and the characters. There is one issue. This is nowhere near the true story. It leaves me wondering if a closer rendition of the true story would be more fitting. Either that or leave the true story to google. Overall, it's a sweet story. I like that Mack is an understandably conflicted man who always loves his animals despite some missteps. When the closing credits happen, I kept wondering when that movie is coming out.
This is an anthropomorphic animal feel-good movie inspired by a true story. I really like the story and the characters. There is one issue. This is nowhere near the true story. It leaves me wondering if a closer rendition of the true story would be more fitting. Either that or leave the true story to google. Overall, it's a sweet story. I like that Mack is an understandably conflicted man who always loves his animals despite some missteps. When the closing credits happen, I kept wondering when that movie is coming out.
A feel good movie
jrbusiness-6449928 August 2020
Just watched this with my son and we really enjoyed it.
It is a family, feel good movie that brings a fair amount of heart with it.
It pulls on your heart strings too at times but all in all, it is a happy movie.
The kids will love it.
It is a family, feel good movie that brings a fair amount of heart with it.
It pulls on your heart strings too at times but all in all, it is a happy movie.
The kids will love it.
A Reverse Homeward Bound
KalKenobi834 September 2020
Watched The One And Only Ivan with Oscar Winner Sam Rockwell(Jojo Rabbit) as Ivan , Danny DeVito(Jumanji: The Next Level) as Bob, Angelina Jolie (Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil) as Stella, Brooklyn Prince(The Florida Project) as Ruby, Helen Mirren(Hobbs & Shaw) as Snickers, Mike White as Frankie, Chaka Khan(RuPaul's Drag Race) as Henrietta, With Bryan Cranston(Isle Of Dogs) as Mack.
I thought the film was heartwarming it was basically a reverse homeward and loosely based on the true events I thought it was heartwarming and great voice performances from Sam Rockwell, Prince, Jolie, and Devito. Score By Craig Armstrong(The Great Gatsby), Cinematography By Florian Ballhaus (The Captain) direction Thea Shaddrock(Me Before You) A Reverse Homeward Bound 7/10
I thought the film was heartwarming it was basically a reverse homeward and loosely based on the true events I thought it was heartwarming and great voice performances from Sam Rockwell, Prince, Jolie, and Devito. Score By Craig Armstrong(The Great Gatsby), Cinematography By Florian Ballhaus (The Captain) direction Thea Shaddrock(Me Before You) A Reverse Homeward Bound 7/10
The One and Only Ivan (2020) - 6.7
Bonnell729 August 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Act 1 - 6.3
Act 2 - 6.6
Act 3 - 7.3
Good voice acting all around
Cranston was good in the role of Mack and the young girl was good too
Generic way of telling this story but works and has its sweet moments
Can be corny at times but the sweet message of caring and animal freedom come out on top
Hard not to like a movie about animals especially when it's about bettering their lives and giving them their freedom
Solid family film that hopefully young kids can take a lesson from
Circus in a small small
Circus is in trouble as not enough people come anymore, need more money
Mack the owner of the circus seems to really care for his animals, all still stuck in captivity though
Audience can hear the animals and they talk to one another
Ivan human friend Julia recognizes his drawing, names the dog Bob
They get a new baby elephant added to their circus, named Ruby
Ruby is the new headliner and Ivan is a bit jealous and feels like he let his friends down by not saving the show himself
Ruby helps drive a bigger crowd
Stella talks of the wild and how you can be free there, sense of longing
Ivan and Ruby become friends
Mack raised Ivan before he even had a show
See how Mack and Ivan's bond was formed and how Mack's wife left him
Stella is dying and wants Ruby to be free and Ivan promises to help her become free
Mack is pushing Ruby too hard in fear of the circus closing down
Ivan wants to take Ruby to the forest
Mack learns Ivan can draw and that's he's new play for publicity
Ivan refuses to draw on stage and is focused of freeing Ruby
Ivan breaks all the animals out one night and takes them across the street into the woods and realizes it just leads to more human filled areas, tiny area in the woods
Mack leads them back to the circus as Ivan realizes they were stuck out there
Ivan remembers life in the wild and loved to draw with mud
Ivan has a whole family and was happy there
Learn Ivan's dad was shot and killed and was taken by people
Ivan uses finger paints to paint a scene of the wild in front of a large audience, hope they revive his message of freedom
Julia tells her dad they have to help Ivan be free, Julia talks to the reporter
News spread and everyone gathers and demands Ivan's plea be heard and be freed
Mack shuts down the circus and the animals are all leaving
Heartfelt goodbye between Ruby and Ivan, same with Bob
Mack and Ivan say their goodbyes, they both cared for each other
Ivan released into some sort of sanctuary, Ruby is there too
Kept his promos to Stella, happy ending
See some real photos of Ivan and some of the true story
.
Act 2 - 6.6
Act 3 - 7.3
Good voice acting all around
Cranston was good in the role of Mack and the young girl was good too
Generic way of telling this story but works and has its sweet moments
Can be corny at times but the sweet message of caring and animal freedom come out on top
Hard not to like a movie about animals especially when it's about bettering their lives and giving them their freedom
Solid family film that hopefully young kids can take a lesson from
Circus in a small small
Circus is in trouble as not enough people come anymore, need more money
Mack the owner of the circus seems to really care for his animals, all still stuck in captivity though
Audience can hear the animals and they talk to one another
Ivan human friend Julia recognizes his drawing, names the dog Bob
They get a new baby elephant added to their circus, named Ruby
Ruby is the new headliner and Ivan is a bit jealous and feels like he let his friends down by not saving the show himself
Ruby helps drive a bigger crowd
Stella talks of the wild and how you can be free there, sense of longing
Ivan and Ruby become friends
Mack raised Ivan before he even had a show
See how Mack and Ivan's bond was formed and how Mack's wife left him
Stella is dying and wants Ruby to be free and Ivan promises to help her become free
Mack is pushing Ruby too hard in fear of the circus closing down
Ivan wants to take Ruby to the forest
Mack learns Ivan can draw and that's he's new play for publicity
Ivan refuses to draw on stage and is focused of freeing Ruby
Ivan breaks all the animals out one night and takes them across the street into the woods and realizes it just leads to more human filled areas, tiny area in the woods
Mack leads them back to the circus as Ivan realizes they were stuck out there
Ivan remembers life in the wild and loved to draw with mud
Ivan has a whole family and was happy there
Learn Ivan's dad was shot and killed and was taken by people
Ivan uses finger paints to paint a scene of the wild in front of a large audience, hope they revive his message of freedom
Julia tells her dad they have to help Ivan be free, Julia talks to the reporter
News spread and everyone gathers and demands Ivan's plea be heard and be freed
Mack shuts down the circus and the animals are all leaving
Heartfelt goodbye between Ruby and Ivan, same with Bob
Mack and Ivan say their goodbyes, they both cared for each other
Ivan released into some sort of sanctuary, Ruby is there too
Kept his promos to Stella, happy ending
See some real photos of Ivan and some of the true story
.
cliche ridden hollow
Rob-O-Cop24 August 2020
Ivan was nicely rendered and performed by Sam Rockwell, but practically everything else was coated in predictable syrup.
The overall story of good animals need to be free, while hard to argue with was delivered in a horrible virtue signaling fashion, so much so as to undo the good intention.
The overall effect was hollow because of it. Cranston does a terrible cartoon character rendering of his role, and only the animals come across as real, and they're all CGI and don't talk in real life.
Devito, Rockwell and Jollie are pretty decent. The rest, didn't deliver.
The future for animals
jess-1510614 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I really hope this film is the future for animals place. Firstly, all the animals were CGI. We really don't need to "use" animals in films anymore and this is proof. Secondly, what started off as a film looking like an unbelievable story about animals in captivity, then turned into something very different. I was so emotional. A lovely film that every child should watch, for the future of animals.
It's all under control
nogodnomasters31 August 2020
Warning: Spoilers
The film was inspired by true events. It is a kid's adaptation about a mall gorilla given crayons and made drawings which in real life looked a lot worse than the ones on screen. Disney used an "A" list of Emmy actors to be the voices of animals.
Predictable Disney film. Not very deep or overly entertaining. Animals die off screen. Some humans are good.
Predictable Disney film. Not very deep or overly entertaining. Animals die off screen. Some humans are good.
Bland
nisara23 August 2020
Oh what a shame. Not a kids movie as it's breathtakingly slow. Not a grown ups movie as it explains everything too much. A hard task is to make you believe a gorilla can talk but when the dog has such a similar tone it all falls down.
The ending was pulling at the heart strings but so syrupy the heart has stopped. The last scene in Schitt's Creek was nuch more moving! Give me Bambi or Lady & the Tramp original storytelling done well. The CGI was astounding but you need a way of telling the story better. What did your kids think?
The ending was pulling at the heart strings but so syrupy the heart has stopped. The last scene in Schitt's Creek was nuch more moving! Give me Bambi or Lady & the Tramp original storytelling done well. The CGI was astounding but you need a way of telling the story better. What did your kids think?
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