The Good Dinosaur gets a star for its visuals, but as a Pixar film, it's a total slow burner that never delivers a real explosion at the end.
| The Good Dinosaur Score Card | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Animated Family / Adventure |
| Star of the Show | Arlo & Spot |
| Vibe Comparison | The Land Before Time (1988) |
| Final Rating | 2 out of 5 Stars |
The background scenery and environmental animation are gorgeous, but story-wise, it feels like a hollow version of The Land Before Time without all the fun friends. That leaves our main dinosaur, Arlo, and his wild caveman buddy, Spot, to carry the entire personality of the film. To make matters worse, half the main duo doesn't even speak! When a huge chunk of your lead cast is non-verbal, it puts way too much weight on simple physical comedy, and it just doesn't land.
The Hidden Details & Easter Eggs
If there's one area where the movie succeeds, it's the fun details hidden in the background:
The Hank Cameo: It was awesome seeing Hank the Octopus (from Finding Dory) hidden underwater before his movie even hit theaters.- The Pizza Planet Asteroid: They found a super creative way to turn the Pizza Planet truck into a rock formation in space. At least they remembered to include it... I'm looking at you, The Incredibles!
- Jurassic Park Nod: The raptor scene felt like a direct homage to the famous Gallimimus stampede and predator ambush from Jurassic Park.
Final Verdict
At the end of the day, The Good Dinosaur is a slow, boring, and largely forgettable entry in the Pixar lineup. Respect to the director: I know the team worked hard on the technical side, but it just didn't spark any real emotion. Unless you're watching strictly to spot the background easter eggs, this one is easily skippable.
My Rating: 2 / 5 Stars
Did The Good Dinosaur win you over, or did you skip it? Let me know in the YouTube comments, and until next time, share a smile - they're contagious!