The One and Only Ivan has a certain charm of talking CG animals, a fun human cast, and the inspiration of the true story! It is of course based on the Newberry award-winning novel by Katherine Applegate published in 2012. The film is directed by Thea Sharrock who also directed the romantic drama, Me Before You (2016). Mike White wrote the screenplay and his other screenplay was School of Rock (2003). It is currently streaming on Disney+. The opening has the castle fogged up so it looks shadowy and then this is wiped away by the paw of Ivan. We can see his gorilla face before he introduces himself. The narration is by Ivan voiced by Sam Rockwell. He voiced Hickory in the animated Trolls World Tour (2020) and was Captain Klenzendorf in Jojo Rabbit (2019). Talking animals means CG animals, but there is enough realism to get past any CG hang-ups, it is really the vocal performances that brings the drama and comedy.
Ivan is a gorilla content with performing in his show. He points out the freeway billboard that features himself. The book is all from Ivan’s perspective, his thoughts instead of talking, also no talking from the humans or other animals in the book. This then shifts to the Big Top Mall and Video Arcade, the real mall was in Tacoma, Washington, then we get the inside of the mall. It is complete with a seal fountain and the tent where they have the circus. We get introduced to Mack played by Bryan Cranston, owner of the circus, complete with red, ringmaster costume and a fake British accent. Cranston is known for such films as El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019) and was the voice of Chief in the animated movie, Isle of Dogs (2018). He introduces his animal acts; Henrietta (Chaka Khan), “The baseball playing chicken”, the Frankie the Seal (Mike White), and Murphy (Ron Funches) who sings, “Rabbit in a fire truck!” It is a number of fun voices, but they are supporting characters.
Mack gives a grand introduction to his next act, “The queen of the big top, Stella!”, then his poodle, Snickers (Helen Mirren), who performs tricks with Stella, and in Ivan’s enclosure is the stray dog voiced by Danny DeVito. Lastly, there is Ivan who climbs out of his enclosure and on the upper stage, he gives some roars and a chest thump. After the show, we see the girl, Julia (Ariana Greenblatt), she is busy sketching Ivan next to Ivan’s enclosure. Greenblatt was young Gamora in Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and has the upcoming musical, In the Heights. Her father is George (Ramon Rodriguez) who takes care of the animals. Rodriguez played Bukuto in Iron Fist and was in the action movie, Need for Speed (2014). Mack confides in Ivan that they need an act to bring in crowds to keep the circus running. At night, Stella (Angelina Jolie) talks to Ivan, she’s an older, gentle elephant. Jolie is a producer on the film and was in Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019) and plays Thena in the upcoming The Eternals.
Ivan worries that the crowds are not coming in because of his performance. He resolves to being the headliner again. Mack is busy getting the circus ready including the parrot, Thelma (Phillipa Soo), the only talking animal understood by humans of course. Soo is known for playing Eliza Hamilton in Hamilton and also the military drama, The Code. Thelma repeating Mack is kinda funny. Ivan tries to give an enthusiastic performance, but gets light applause. After the show, Julia gives her extra crayons to Ivan along with some paper. Mack rages against the dog in Ivan’s enclosure to the maintenance man, Castello (Owain Arthur). Costello is about to enter Ivan’s cage, but he is frightened by the gorilla. Later, Ivan uses a red crayon to sketch a beetle. After Ivan's show, we see Mack excited about something on the phone. Julia looks at Ivan’s drawing and shows it to her father. She names the dog Bob.
The next morning, Mack is excited, Bob goes to the dog kibble in Mack’s office. He talks to Snickers who tells him about the new arrival. Bob shouts out the news to Ivan and all of the animals. Mack enters a cargo container and then is knocked down. George works with Mack to take Stella bring out a baby elephant! Mack explains that she came from a bankrupt circus and her name is Ruby. At his cage, Ivan is about to go to sleep, but is wakened by the questions by Ruby (Brooklynn Prince). She is a curious elephant, but this is a new environment. Prince voiced Zoe in The Angry Birds Movie 2 (2019), but was a sensation playing Moonee in The Florida Project (2017). Ivan loses the spotlight to Ruby walking in with Stella. It takes some time for Ivan to show his special artistic talent. We get some memories of Ivan from his baby years, becoming an artist, getting captured, and then raised by Mack. He has to hold to his promise and give Ruby her freedom. This is a question of animal captivity that is unusual since Ivan IRL ends up in Zoo Atlanta. The One and Only Ivan is a charming film, it brings up some complex questions, but has a heart and some fun.
Three Crayons out of Five!
#TheOneandOnlyIvan, #TheaSharrock, #SamRockwell, #BryanCranston, #ArianaGreenblatt
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