DreamWorks Animation’s The Wild Robot (animation; dubbed) is the story of Roz, the sole-surviving robot among six who wash up on an island uninhabited by humans and on which live only animals. Roz tries to offer her services to the animals but actually only succeeds in terrifying them. She decides to signal her manufacturers to retrieve her but gets chased by a bear. While fleeing, she accidentally crushes a goose nest, leaving just one egg. The gosling takes birth and is named Brightbill. Roz takes great care of Brightbill and teaches him to swim.
Roz, Brightbill and Fink, a fox, are now living together. But Brightbill gets angry with Roz when, one day, he gets to know from others that she had killed his entire family. He flees along with other geese who migrate elsewhere, but Roz is unable to get over him.
Brightbill leads a pack of geese to safety from other robots at the place they have migrated to. Here, Roz saves Fink and many other animals from a deadly snowstorm. Meanwhile, Roz’s manufacturers reach her in a bid to take her back. Vontra, a retrieval robot, tries to lure Roz onto the ship but Roz flees. An army of robots is then recruited by Vontra to capture Roz, but all the animals unite to save Roz from Vontra. The pack of animals, who fight Vontra, is led by none other than Brightbill who has since returned. By then, Roz’s power has been cut by Vontra, and her memory has been erased. But Roz’s systems are reactivated and restored by the sheer power of her love for Brightbill.
Nevertheless, Roz leaves to save the animal kingdom from further attacks by robots. Months later, Brightbill traces Roz who is working elsewhere. Luckily for both of them, Roz remembers Brightbill.
The story is based on The Wild Robot, a children’s picture book by Peter Brown. It is interesting and touches the right chord. Chris Sanders’ screenplay is well-written and it engages the audience emotionally. However, for the Indian audience in general and the Hindi film-going audience in particular, the animation drama will hold limited appeal, more so because it involves a robot. Dialogues are appealing.
The voice acting is quite nice. Chris Sanders’ direction is sensitive. Kris Bowers’ background music is fairly good. Chris Stover’s cinematography is decent. Mary Blee does a fine job of the editing. Dubbing is of a good standard.
On the whole, The Wild Robot is a fair entertainer, but its chances at the turnstiles are very limited.
Released on 17-10-’24 at Inox Ghatkopar (3D; 1 show; in daily 3 shows from 18-10-’24) and some cinemas and on 18-10-’24 at Gemini (daily 2 shows) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Warner Bros. Pictures (India) Pvt. Ltd. Publicity: ordinary. Opening: weak. …….Also released all over. Opening was dull at most of the places.
