Director: Leopoldo Aguilar
Starring: Jamie Bell, Ruby Rose
Distributor: Rialto Films
Runtime: 88 mins. Reviewed in Jun 2021
Reviewer: Fr Peter Malone msc

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Rating notes: Mild science-fiction themes

It is a pity that the target audience for these holiday animation films are not the writers of reviews! Their views on the entertainment value need to be heeded (rather than critics’ analysis of strengths and shortcomings, valid though they may be).

We can try to imagine what the young audience might write. First of all, this is all very colourful, the characters, the students at the Academy, the teachers, life in the Academy itself – and, the explosion and excitement of the transformation and the engineer caught up in it.

While this older reviewer thought that Danny, the young hero, seemed to be about seven or eight, the synopsis tells us that he is 15! So, a readjustment question for the audience – does it appeal to the seven or eight’s or does it appeal to the 15-year-olds? This reviewer’s hunch, the former! We can also note, that in these times of equality, while Danny seems to be the dominant character, he is soon joined by Liz, who is not going to take any bossing from Danny, preferring some of her own bossiness, and getting him to admit eventually that they are a team. So, boys and girls can respond equally!

And the action? Well, there is a lot of it, and much of it is the same! A whole number of monsters who indulge in repeat performances! But, the main attention is given to the engineer who splashed his sauce on the computer console and caused the explosion, his being whisked into the maelstrom, transformed into something of a monster (but benign) moth (with quite an infatuation for torches and lightbulbs!). When the staff and the students are all captured, it is up to Danny and Liz, collaborating with the engineer to rescue them. Which means a whole lot of threats, menacing, dangers, confrontations, death-risks and ultimate victory.

A reviewer hunch – this might be enjoyed more by the younger audience, older children and teens perhaps judging it was a bit below them. And not necessary for parents to watch.