Dumbo

Based on the 1941 Disney classic, Dumbo follows Colin Farrell’s Holt Farrier as he returns home from war and is immediately put to work taking care of elephants on a traveling circus – with the narrative detailing the hubbub that ensues after a baby elephant learns to fly. Filmmaker Tim Burton, working from Ehren Kruger’s screenplay, admittedly does a fantastic job of initially drawing the viewer into the deliberately-paced proceedings, as Dumbo boasts a whole surfeit of compelling characters and contains a strong portrayal of the tight-knit community in which they reside – with this vibe heightened by the efforts of an exceedingly able roster of performers. It’s clear, though, that Dumbo‘s greatest asset is the title character himself, as the iconic figure has been infused with far more personality than one might’ve reasonably anticipated – with the effectiveness of the protagonist’s portrayal certainly going a long way towards smoothing over the midsection’s few lulls (ie the movie’s 112 minute running time is ultimately too much for the somewhat thin storyline to bear). And although the picture’s been suffused with a few too many human villains, Dumbo progresses into an exciting, engrossing third act that renders such concerns moot, essentially – with the tremendously satisfying conclusion firmly cementing the film’s place as a better-than-expected contemporary remake.

***1/2 out of ****