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Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken (2023)

 


Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken is the latest animated film by Dreamworks. 

Directed by Kirk DeMicco and Faryn Pearl, the film is focused on a teenage girl trying to go to prom with her love interest. The movie has a lot of great shots, intentional zooms, and transitions that made for an enjoyable experience, plus the emotional animation helps. 

The writers are Pam Brady, Brian C. Brown, and Elliot Diguiseppi. To be progressive the girl is asking the boy and as a teacher, I've asked my students this question. Many believe that it's still the boy's responsibility to ask out the girl. Not sure whose idea it was but I'm not sure if teenage Texans are going to entertain that idea in today's USA. 

Lana Condor is Ruby and I haven't heard her voice enough to know it was her. She was from Alita: Battle Angel, To All the Boys I've Loved Before, and X-Men: Apocalypse as Jubilee. On the other hand, Jane Fonda and Toni Collette's voices are easily recognizable and fit the role they are being asked to voice. They are Grandmamah and Ruby's mother. Another voice you'll recognize if you listen closely is that of Will Forte as Gordon Lighthouse. Forte will forever be The Last Man on Earth and MacGruber for me. Also, Annie Murphy from Schitt's Creek plays the vain villain in the movie and her voice always had that when she was Alexis Rose. Ew David.

The film is better than okay, and better than anything Disney has put out in the animation department in a long while. It's certainly Above Average. B-

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