Ferdinand (2017) - movie review

Ferdinand (2017)

Starring – John Cena, Kate McKinnon, David Tennant, Peyton Manning

Directed by Carlos Saldanha

Story by Ron Burch, David Kidd, Don Rhymer

Based on the Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson’s illustrated book Ferdinand

Rating – 3.5/5

Review by Zulfiqar

            Colliding head on with Coco in the oscar nomination of 2018 for best animation is Ferdinand. Though it is a mammoth climb for it to scale the Mexican themed animation epic, Ferdinand has its heart at the right place. The movie’s Achilles heel, however, lies in its prosaic first half. It has a very moderate pace in the first half, not your zapping you out of your zone – type of style.

            Based on Munro Leaf’s 1936 illustrated novel, Ferdinand is the story of a bull, who against his mammoth size prefers smelling flowers rather than be the center of attraction in a bullfighting competition. He is ridiculed by the fellow calves when he is a kid for his sensitive side. He makes an escape from the ranch farm where he is being raised for his destiny - to be a fighting bull. He is later raised by a farmer in a nearby village and is the best friend of the farmer’s daughter. His mistaken furiousness one day finds him back in the matador’s ranch where he is groomed as a prize bull to be fought on the d-day.

            The movie’s central strength lies in Ferdinand’s simple nature of avoiding a fight. Despite his massive structure, he resorts, despite his friends’ taunts, to the simple task of loving flowers, friends and people. John Cena voicing Ferdinand reinforces this belief by giving gentle vocals. His cordial replies to the taunting by his fellow bulls explain Ferdinand in a simple way.

            The fun in the dialogue part comes with the comic relief by Lupe (Kate McKinnon), a pacifying goat for Ferdinand. But with her finding of humor in every pun, it looks a heavy drag to pull the jokes from every single point. However, there is a great song sequence with a synchronous dance performance from the German horses, who live in another part of the ranch. It humorously highlights the equine haughtiness and how they look down upon their taurine counterparts. David Tennant histrionically and artfully voices a foolish Scottish bull named Angus, who doesn’t know that his mop is the hindrance to his vision.

The initial scene of Ferdinand rifling through a crockery store is a fine set-piece with fine detailed artwork of differing porcelain. The rural scenery with a refined visual clarity is a constant soothing balm to the viewers’ eyes. However, it would have been greatly aided if it would have been devoid of 3D hindrance.

As with the modern VFX technology and animation advances, it is such a boon seeing and understanding the emotions of Ferdinand especially when it is separated from her human friend. The scenes feel very heart-aching. The real winner for the whole movie is the final standoff between the hero-bull and the matador. Director Carlos Saldanha plays this trump card so well gathering lots of audience laughs. It poetically justifies as to how the matador feels when he is at the other end of the tether.

Ferdinand is a story, which has such a basic feel to it. It had been lauded by Gandhi in his time. Ferdinand prefers smelling flowers rather than going after the red. It explains the appeal of love over hate and how this simple emotion would end all the disparities. Canceling the big picture, even the direct assessment of the bullfighting culture is a kind-less act. The poignancy of the fate of the bull is very pathetic to say the least. Either it dies as a hero or if it doesn’t make it to the ring, it will make it to the slaughterhouse. One of the scenes in the movie depicts this and is so heart-rending.

A trio of hedge-hogs mimics the actions and plans of their animated forefathers, the legendary ‘Madagascar’ penguins. These sort of inspirations lets down the spirit of the movie as it loses the novel touch, it needs to create. The meandering slow first half with occasional brilliance of the set-pieces makes Ferdinand a worthwhile watch.