cyclingsun

The beauty of the cinematography, mostly indoors, with the stunning combinations of colors & composition, suddenly made me think of "2001: A Space Odyssey". And like that movie, the slow passage of time & action for much of the piece could seem rather dull to those not 100% engrossed. The humor was subtle, relying more on the character's commitment to surreal elements -- but their earnestness also diluted some much-needed "WTF?" comic relief. But overall, the episode felt like a Major Movie in production value, acting ability, and in length.

Between the long 2-year gap between Season 1& 2, and our unintentional long gap between Season 2's Episodes 2 & 3, my husband & I found ourselves pausing the show to refresh our memories: had we seen that character before? "Severance" is best binge-watched, starting from Season 1, Episode 1 & plowing straight through, at least as far as this episode.

And like "2001", the final segment is riveting, as other reviewers have said. So watch this episode with a mindset of meditative willingness to soak in the details: you'll be rewarded with an ending that will suddenly want to watch the next episode right away.

The age-demographic target audience of "The Wild Robot" is those who enjoy good Young Adult books, like the "Harry Potter" & "Hunger Games" series, where whimsy keeps themes of death from being overwhelming & the story briskly evolves. The beautiful animation of forest creatures & their semi-frequent antics MAY keep children aged 5-10 interested, but this is NOT a cartoon movie for kids. However, this interesting, thought-stimulating tale with ZERO romance makes "The Wild Robot" an excellent choice for dates, inspiring deep conversations afterwards. And folks of all ages will enjoy it (and probably enjoy it more WITHOUT young kids in tow).

In nature, hunting for food is part of daily survival and all creatures are prey and/or predator. It's a kill and/or be killed life, where reactions to deaths are pragmatic, to the point of callousness. "Kindness" is not considered a useful survival skill. And into this "fight or flight" environment unexpectedly comes a robot programmed to Complete Helpful Tasks.

Most of the forest creatures are terrified of her, but the kind-hearted, overwrought possum mom helps the Robot, while the lonely, devious fox exploits her abilities. The robot assumes she must rear a gosling she unintentionally orphaned so that it can migrate south. In the process, the audience witnesses themes of parenting, friendship and acceptance of those who're different. For parents of "grown and flown" kids, the movie gently touches a deep, tender nerve, triggering unexpected tears. I suspect those reviewers complaining they "don't get it" have never felt the dual pain & pride of parenting a child, or are unfamiliar with kindness towards those who are snarky, needy, and/or lonely. My gut says this movie could help autistic people feel accepted.

If you & your date react differently to "The Wild Robot," you might not be compatible. The movie will resonate with people of all faiths that value love & kindness, while giving much delighted laughter.