“Are you going to eat me?”
A stark contrast to the 1977 original, David Lowery’s Pete’s Dragon is every bit of a reimagining. But that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Full of magical flare and an unstoppable spirit, the film is a true triumph, offering up a magical experience that analyzes the friendship between an orphan and his dragon.
Beginning with a tragic car accident that leaves Pete lost in the middle of the forest without an inkling as to what to do, Pete’s Dragon quickly introduces us to our magical creature: a large, green dragon that soon goes by Elliot.
Wasting no time at all, Lowery pushes forward six years and utilizes stellar CGI effects to showcase the fun and games that can exist between man and beast. Navigating through the thick forest, Pete effortlessly climbs trees, hops over logs and eventually soars over the side of a cliff. But not to worry, his protective guardian (Elliot) is there for it all, taking him on an electrifying ride that reminds us all how much fun it would be to own a dragon.
But in true Disney fashion, things get real really quick. Always one to push an agenda, the film introduces us to Bryce Dallas Howard’s Grace, a state employee who patrols the forest for a reason we are not cleared to know. It is through her (and her fiancé) that we are introduced to the world of forrest preservation.
While Grace fights to protect trees that animals rely on for their home, her husband’s company chops them down. Though the issue is a valid one, its placement within the confines of the story does nothing but help place people within the vicinity of Pete and Elliot. And while Elliot’s magic helps to explain why he has gone unnoticed all this time, it is a straight up embarrassment that no one has taken notice to the young boy who (poorly) hides behind leaves and tree trunks.
The film’s lone mistake comes from its inability to keep things rooted in reality. While the presence of a magical dragon complicates the formula a bit, the film fails to keep the story rooted, instead giving way to a string of clichés that ultimately lead to Elliot’s discovery, his capture and his impeding doom.
Robert Redford offers up some sound (though harshly underused) supporting work, and Karl Urban has majestically perfected the villain role by way of a greedy small town tough guy who yearns for relevance and sees it by way of the Millhaven Dragon. And though he makes the predicted 180-degree turnaround during the third act, he does it with a poise that allows you to wallow in the craft of it all.
Though the film lasts ten minutes longer than it should, the story rarely falters. And as the closing musical number begins to enter your ears, and your eyes consume the flawless scenery of that final shot, you can’t help but feel grateful. Though likely enjoyed most through the innocent eyes of a child, Lowery’s Pete’s Dragon is a true gem of a film that will allow you to escape from this rather dark world we all call home, and experience a little magic by way of a young orphan boy and his giant, green dragon.
