Dumbo doesn't quite live up to the magic of the original animated film, but strives to add more to the story that may find traction with a new generation.
“A Disney legend returns for a whole new generation. Acclaimed director Tim Burton presents the reimagined Dumbo. Dreams soar all the way to the Big Top when a baby elephant that can fly saves the day!”
Since Disney’s announcement of releasing live-action remakes of some of their most iconic animated features, I’ve had serious reservations. With such a giant company that has acquired many other companies with vast amounts of intellectual property, the decision to simply remake these classic films is a decision I feel embodies laziness most of all, with a lack of creativity to ensure that an original story becomes harder and harder to come to fruition in Hollywood today. Dumbo, however, is a bit different. Unlike Aladdin and The Lion King, Dumbo had a very short running time that lacked a full story. With a running time almost doubled of the original, I was eager to see some of the obviously new creative directions they would have to go in to make the film work in a modern narrative structure.
With Tim Burton at the helm you knew you’d be in for something unique and visually stunning. His foray into Disney classics with Alice in Wonderland, if nothing else, had some impressive visual qualities to it. Still, regardless of how one may view Burton’s work in recent years, the reunion of him, Keaton and DeVito should have any movie fan eager in anticipation to view the old Batman Returns veterans in action again. Dumbo’s visual style is indeed one of its better qualities, as Burton accentuates the Big Top in the film, culminating into a stunning theme park that looks more impressive than anything I’ve seen today. Although his style has definitely become more subtle and refined since his days on Batman and Beetlejuice, Burton still manages to paint a gorgeous picture on film that will entertain those of any age.
Disney’s mantra of relatable themes still remains intact in this remake, providing a lot of sympathy toward Dumbo and all the animals of the circus who are mistreated and taken advantage of for profit, but this live-action remake includes others that seem to be standard in any modern Disney flick. A strong young female who aspires to be admired for her mind rather than anything else is a basic Disney element these days, so much so that it starts to get rather redundant and risks losing the genuine authenticity to inspire the youth of the world. I’m all for changing the female character in Disney films from helpless princess to a self-sufficient woman, but at what point does the meaning slip away if it’s included solely for the sake of checking a box of modern Disney productions? This isn’t the only reason the human element of the film suffers, acting is flat and uninspired, the antagonist is painfully predictable and unimaginative, and the human interactions with Dumbo fail to find as much meaning as Dumbo and his mother.
As much as I wanted to be on board with the new story elements of Dumbo, the writing lacked in several ways. Besides the dull and predictable direction of the story, several eye-rolling moments left me desperately wishing I was watching the original animated film: namely Michael Buffer, the guy who announces boxing and wrestling events, making a cameo in this film in several scenes to announce a slightly modified version of this: “Let’s get ready for Dumbooooo!”. For me, this was the moment the film jumped the shark and lost me completely. Despite all the heartfelt moments between baby Elephant and mother, the strained relationship with Colin Farrell and his children, the really bad moments of the film drag it down so drastically it’s almost impossible for it to recover.
Although I’m not a fan of the remaking animated films with live-action trend, I recognize the attempt to reach a younger generation to expose them to the same type of magic that once captivated me as a child. Dumbo presents this magic in an entirely different way, and although I wasn’t a fan of the direction it went in, there are sure to be those out there who will find that magic in the film and be inspired.
Video
Dumbo is presented in 2160p 4k Ultra High Definition Widescreen 1.85:1 featuring HDR. The film, if nothing else, is a beautiful display of Burton’s vision for Dumbo. The color balance is absolutely stunning, with the brilliant brights and deep darks of the HDR becoming a showcase for the format. The Big Top is portrayed as wonderfully as possible, with the theme park particularly providing an aesthetically pleasing element to the film. There are some very bright sequences in which the detail is very clear, as well as darker sequences that still look equally as good.
Audio
The audio is presented in Dolby Atmos, and is another spectacular technical aspect of the set. Levels are well balanced, with some impressive atmospheric effects coming from the surrounds. The Danny Elfman score is particularly enjoyable, with some very Burton-esque elements that will be easily recognizable for fans of his.
Special Features
Extras on this disc include:
- Deleted Scenes
- Easter Eggs on Parade
- Clowning Around Bloopers
- Behind the Scenes Look at the Magic of Dumbo
As much as I wanted Dumbo to achieve the same type of feeling I got as a child watching the animated film, several factors prevented that from happening. While Dumbo himself remains a wonderful symbol that stands the test of time, the rest of the film pales in comparison.
