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    Movie Review

    Literal fish-out-of-water story of Pixar's Luca lacks sense of adventure

    Alex Bentley
    Jun 17, 2021 | 11:35 am
    Luca (Jacob Tremblay) and Alberto (Jack Dylan Grazer) in Lucaplay icon
    Luca (Jacob Tremblay) and Alberto (Jack Dylan Grazer) in Luca.
    Photo courtesy of Disney/Pixar

    Since its first feature film, 1995’s Toy Story, Pixar has been unafraid to tell stories that others would not or, at the least, could not do as well. Their latest, Luca, is a play on similar stories that have come before, but with a unique twist that shows the animation studio is still out there taking risks after 25 years of being on top.

    Luca (voiced by Jacob Tremblay) is a young “sea monster” (closer to a mermaid than anything else) who is an undersea shepherd living off the coast of Italy under the strict thumb of his parents, Daniela (Maya Rudolph) and Lorenzo (Jim Gaffigan). He has a curiosity about life above the surface, especially after finding various items that have fallen into the ocean, but he’s warned by his parents to always be wary of “land monsters.”

    He gets pulled above water after meeting Alberto (Jack Dylan Grazer), a fellow sea monster who actually lives on land most of the time, on a small island just off the coast. Buoyed by the fact that they turn into humans outside of water and tempted by the lure of a Vespa motor scooter, the duo make their way to the town of Portorosso. There, they soon join forces with the spunky Giulia (Emma Berman), leading to a series of escapades.

    Directed by Enrico Casarosa and written by Jesse Andrews and Mike Jones, the film is unusually light on the type of emotional story that Pixar usually delivers. That’s because, other than the risk of Luca and Alberto being revealed as sea monsters, the stakes of the film are not that high. They try to insert different issues – Luca wanting to go to school, Alberto being an orphan, Giulia being shuttled between two parents – but none of them really connects.

    There is a good amount of fun to be had in the film, thanks to some interesting supporting characters, including the pompous Giacomo (Giacomo Gianniotti) and a sullen cat owned by Giulia’s father, Massimo (Marco Barricelli). But the sense of adventure is just never there, as the filmmakers fail to make the goals of the three kids as important to the audience as they are to the characters.

    In fact, the film plays as more of an homage to film history than a genuine attempt to entertain modern-day kids. It’s set in the 1950s for seemingly no other reason than to involve the Vespa, driving home the point with a poster of Roman Holiday starring Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn, which prominently featured the scooter. It also has posters for the Italian film La Strada and The Creature from the Black Lagoon, and the town’s name bears a close resemblance to Porco Rosso, a Studio Ghibli film set in Italy. And, of course, a sea creature wanting to see what life is like on land has been told before in Disney’s The Little Mermaid.

    Tremblay (Room, Wonder) and Grazer (Shazam!, It) are two prominent up-and-coming young actors, so it’s not difficult to understand why they were cast as the leads. Rudolph has become the go-to voiceover maternal figure of late, playing that role in Big Hero 6, The Mitchells vs. the Machines, and here, among others. Most of the roles are filled by actual Italian actors, lending at least an air of authenticity to the film.

    Animation fans have come to expect greatness from Pixar every time they release a film, and while Luca is far from a failure, there’s nothing especially memorable about it, either. It’s great that the studio is trying something different instead of relying on its go-to properties, but in this instance, the impact just isn’t there.

    ---

    Luca debuts on Disney+ on June 18.

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    Weekend Event Planner

    These are the 14 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

    Alex Bentley
    Jun 19, 2025 | 6:00 am
    DRUMline Live
    Photo courtesy of DRUMline Live
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    This weekend across Dallas will be one to celebrate Juneteenth, pride, top golfers, music, theater, and more. Choices include a major golf tournament, four concerts, three theater productions, a big block party, two comedians, a special drum performance, and the final days of a unique immersive audio experience.

    Below are the best ways to spend your free time this weekend. If you want more options, check out the calendar for an even longer list of the city's best events.

    Thursday, June 19

    Dallas Historical Society presents “Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom” opening day
    Leading off the many Juneteenth festivities around DFW is "Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom," which explores the historic origins of Juneteenth and its lasting impact. The exhibition features two components: the “Historical Track,” which includes firsthand accounts of emancipation shared by formerly enslaved individuals, and the “Celebration Track,” which invites visitors to recording their own stories and sentiments. Also on display is the Dallas Historical Society’s Juneteenth Order No. 3, the only remaining copy of those hand-delivered to Texas in 1865 to declare that enslaved people were free. The exhibition will remain on display through October 19 at the Hall of State in Fair Park.

    KPMG Women’s PGA Championship
    The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, the most prestigious and second-oldest women’s Major Championship, will be the first in its over 70-year history to be played in Texas. The Championship showcases the best female players in the world, including 2024 KPMG Women’s PGA Champion Amy Yang. The tournament takes place through Sunday at Fields Ranch in Frisco.

    Bibi in concert
    Unlike most music exports from South Korea in recent years, singer/rapper Bibi has never been part of a K-Pop group. Like most of them, though, she was part of a reality music competition, The Fan, on which she finished second in 2018. After a couple of EPs, she released her debut album in 2022, and she is now touring in support of her second album, the new Eve: Romance. She'll perform at The Pavilion At Toyota Music Factory in Irving.

    Shakespeare Dallas presents Othello
    In this Shakespearean tragedy, Othello is at the peak of his powers: not only Venice's greatest general but also husband to the noble and beautiful Desdemona. But he does not know that in passing over his servant Iago for promotion, he has created a deadly-but-brilliant enemy. This Shakespeare in the Park production from Shakespeare Dallas will get a modern twist, set in an alternate history version of the 1990s in which the Venetian empire is the predominant political, military, and economic power. It will run in repertory with The Importance of Being Earnest at Samuell-Grand Amphitheatre through July 20.

    Friday, June 20

    Dallas Arts District Pride Block Party
    To celebrate Pride Month, Dallas Arts District will partner with its three museums - Dallas Museum of Art, Nasher Sculpture Center, and Crow Museum of Asian Art - to present a Pride Block Party. There will be pride-themed tours, performances, films, artists, gourmet food trucks, makers, Dallas artists, informational tables, activities, and more.

    Mo Amer: El Oso Palestino Tour
    Mo Amer is a Palestinian-American stand-up comedian and actor who grew up in Houston. He is known for his Netflix comedy special Mo Amer: The Vagabond and as a member of the comedy trio Allah Made Me Funny. Amer also appeared in the Hulu sitcom Ramy for two seasons. He'll perform at Majestic Theatre.

    Luke Bryan in concert
    Country singer Luke Bryan has been one of the top artists in the genre since his debut in 2007, scoring nine No. 1 hits on the Billboard Country charts, success that has allowed him to up his profile by appearing on The Voice and, since 2018, serving as a judge on American Idol. He'll play at Dos Equis Pavilion in support of 2024 album, Mind of a Country Boy.

    The Hopeful Theatre Project presents Disney’s The Little Mermaid
    In the beloved Disney classic The Little Mermaid, King Triton's youngest daughter Ariel wishes to pursue the human Prince Eric in the world above, bargaining with the evil sea witch, Ursula, to trade her tail for legs. But the bargain is not what it seems, and Ariel needs the help of her colorful friends, Flounder the fish, Scuttle the seagull, and Sebastian the crab to restore order under the sea. The production, running through Sunday at Kalita Humphreys Theater, will benefit Turtle Island Restoration Network.

    AT&T Performing Arts Center presents DRUMline Live
    DRUMLine Live is an international tour based on the Historically Black College and University marching band tradition. The stage show, a synchronized musical showcase of the HBCU experience, features original compositions and soul-infused interpretations of top 40 hits. The performance takes place at Winspear Opera House.

    Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents Pride Night with DSO
    Pride Night with DSO is an evening celebrating love, identity, and community. Conducted by Enrico Lopez-Yañez, the special performance will feature vocalists Christian Dante White, Maiya Sykes, and the Turtle Creek Chorale. The program will include Broadway hits, movie classics, and disco favorites. The concert takes place at Meyerson Symphony Center.

    Saturday, June 21

    Teatro Dallas presents Entre Páginas
    Entre Páginas is a musical for children and teens, written by Jorge Cogollo, in which six actors on stage give life to the story of a girl who loses the final page of a story. In search of her happy ending, she embarks on a magical journey in the library trying to find a writer to help her complete the end of the story. The production, featuring four performances through June 29, is performed in Spanish with an English synopsis.

    Thee Phantom & The Illharmonic Orchestra in concert
    Thee Phantom combines the energy and passion of hip-hop, with the beautiful, sweeping sounds of live orchestration featuring strings, horns, woodwinds, and a pianist. Add to that a soul songstress, a crowd controlling DJ and a fire breathing MC and that is still but a fraction of what you'll get when you catch Thee Phantom & the Illharmonic Orchestra in action. They'll perform at Winspear Opera House.

    Majestic Theatre presents Sheng Wang
    Comedian, actor, and writer Sheng Wang, originally from Houston, has released one Netflix special, Sweet & Juicy, in September 2022. He was a featured stand-up comedian on HBO’s 2 Dope Queens special and also wrote for the ABC show Fresh Off the Boat. He'll perform at Majestic Theatre.

    Sunday, June 22

    AT&T PAC & Realscape Productions present Darkfield: Séance, Flight, and Coma closing day
    After three months, the immersive audio experience Darkfield - located at Sammons Park - will come to a close. It features three experiences: Séance, Flight, and Coma, each of which is staged within a custom-built shipping container. The pitch-black environments utilize 360-degree binaural sound and innovative sensory effects to create immersive worlds that challenge perceptions and evoke deep emotional responses.

    DRUMline Live
      
    Photo courtesy of DRUMline Live

    AT&T Performing Arts Center presents DRUMline Live at Winspear Opera House on June 20.

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