The big eared elephant that captured audiences hearts over 75 years ago is back in a live action version. Directed by Tim Burton, latest film does an ample job of living up to the same expectations as its animated predecessor. Capturing iconic songs including the opening scene score of Casey Jr, as well as “Baby Mine” sung by the canadian rock band, “Arcadia Fire”, the film adequately brings to life the lovable elephant for a new generation.
Of course there are a few minor liberties that director Burton does take in recreating the magic. One being the “Elephants on Parade” scene, though from a critic standpoint one could definitely see comparisons between the original where Dumbo himself is creating the images. In this version, the scene is actually part of the act preceding dumbo’s big debut. In similarity, though Dumbo is not drunk, he still has a certain amusement to the images, similar to that of a young child experiencing the wonder of something brand new.
Looking at Dumbo as a live action character though it is clear that he is CGI, the expression that is put into the creation of the elephant, does so in such a way that upon first glance one is automatically drawn into the images by his eyes alone which melts even the hardest of hearts.
Also, Burton took more liberties in bringing out Dumbo’s gift of flight early on through the eyes of the children who befriend the orphan elephant. The young children discover his talent by accident through the curiosity of baby Dumbo to a feather. Additionally Burton also steers away from that of making fun of Dumbo less than the original. Though there is still the scene of Dumbo with the clowns in the burning building, less attention is on him as a freak and more on the children encouraging him to fly for everyone.
The film also has more of a human attachment as Burton tells a deeper story of the people who is in Dumbo’s life. The stellar cast includes Colin Farrell as he returns home from war with a lost arm and lost wife as he tries to cope with the fact that his life is changing from one who performs horseback to that of taking care of the elephants. In addition, he is also now facing being a solo parent to his two children whom he has little contact with.
Also Danny Devito plays the circus ring leader and his outgoing personality adequately captures the heart of the circus from the first moment he comes on scene. One knows that he is not all bad and it particularly shows his better side when Michael Keaton as the owner of Dreamland, a rival circus, decides to “Join” with Devito with only one goal in mind, to steal the star attraction. The opposition between the two is adequately displayed on screen as one wonders who is actually going to get Dumbo for real.
There is also a slight hint of a love interest as a center act from Dreamland, introduced through Keaton’s character as a side act with Dumbo, ends up as more of an ally to Farrell’s character when things turn south. The acrobat, Collette (played by Eva Green) also has a slight change of character as she turns from the bad to somewhat the good. In the end, the only question is what would happen next, though in order to figure that out one is encouraged to see the movie.
Furthermore, Dumbo contains exceptional special effects as well as heart warming scenes that will have enthusiasts saying to themselves, how did they do that, while at the same time, one might also tear up like in the original, especially when Dumbo is taken away from his mama, but the question is does he ever see her again?
Dumbo came out in theaters March 29, 2019 and is currently playing in a theater near you.