The Magician’s Elephant

  • 01 Apr - 07 Apr, 2023
  • Mag The Weekly
  • Reviews

Dare to believe is the film's tagline, and it is followed religiously as Peter embarks on a mission to find his missing sister. So, when a fortune teller gives Peter a cryptic clue to follow a magical elephant, he finds the ray of hope he seeks. And now he'll go to any length to achieve his goal. Even if it means accepting the King's ridiculous challenge.

Wendy Rogers, a visual effects artist turned first-time filmmaker, nails the fairy tale setting with a splash of vibrant colours and detailed animation that transports us to the fictional town of Baltese in the postwar era. Rogers' skillful visual imagery is one of the film's strongest points, as it is more verbose and less action-packed than most. Although the story is fairly straightforward and tailored to a younger audience, the leisurely pace takes its toll. One can see how the creators attempted to appeal to children of all ages. With stunning animation and heartwarming characters, it captures the essence of DiCamillo's book, but the blend of fantasy and adventure is slightly underwhelming.

The actors chosen to voice the characters are excellent. Aasif Mandvi captures the eccentricities of a typical King, and Noah Jupe captures the honesty and determination of young teenager Peter quite well. The rest of the cast does well.

Overall, this visually appealing and colourful story is harmless, but it could have been a lot more entertaining and packed with adventure. It's a happy film with endearing characters and a magical world only found in fairy tales. It may not cast a powerful spell on you, but its fictitious charm will leave you slightly enchanted.

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