Pixar has once again created a fantastic family film rendered in breath-taking CGI. The environments in Good Dinosaur are undeniably gorgeous. From vast plains, to noble mountain peaks, to raging rivers, to endless western skies, the viewer is treated to landscapes that would make John Ford envious. The character designs are simplified, but serviceable. They'll make good happy meal toys and lunch boxes. Yessir, We've got a big-eyed Apatosaurus boy, a big-eyed human boy, a kooky-eyed comic relief ceratopsian dinosaur, a squinty-eyed pteradactyl villain, and a somber-eyed perfect father with Mufasa syndrome.
Speaking of Mufasa syndrome, every bit of this script comes from another Disney movie. Every beat is a beat you've seen before. Every character bears a familiar similarity to half a dozen other Disney movie characters. The whole paint-by-numbers script feels a little to... comfortable. I know, I know, there's nothing new under the sun, right? Disney has been rehashing classic storylines since before any of us where born, but somehow I expected a bit more out of Pixar.
In fairness, I should mention that Sam Elliot's portrayal of a Tyrannosaurus Cowboy was memorable fun. In fact, he stole the scene every time he was on screen. It's a shame he was relegated to the second act, a little more Sam Elliot could have gone a long way in Disney / Pixar's the Good Dinosaur.
Has any studio in the last twenty years delivered quality films more consistently than Pixar? When one is in the enviable position of bowling nine strikes in a row, one may be tempted to play it safe on the tenth frame. Pixar's Good Dinosaur is a quality movie that plays it safe, colors inside the lines, and never challenges or surprises the viewer.
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Verdict: Watch it when it comes to Netflix. It's still better than most family movies.
