Strange World, formerly titled Searcher Clade, is a 2022 animated adventure film directed by Don Hall (Big Hero 6, Moana, Raya and the Last Dragon), and written/co-directed by Qui Nguyen (Raya and the Last Dragon). It is produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios, and will be their 61st animated feature. It is the first Walt Disney Animation Studios film to be composed by Alexandre Desplat.

The legendary Clades are a family of explorers whose differences threatened to topple their latest and most crucial mission.

The voice cast includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Dennis Quaid, Jaboukie Young-White, Gabrielle Union, Lucy Liu, Karan Soni, Adelina Anthony, and Alan Tudyk.

Strange World made its debut in theaters on November 23rd, courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures.

THE GOOD

Let me just start by saying this has been a down year when it comes to family-friendly movies which is a bit of a bummer when you have kids who have become obsessed with going to the movies with dad. Now I have no issue bringing my 2-year-old to see Smile or Prey for the Devil considering he claims he likes “scary”, but something tells me my wife may have a few issues with that. So instead we had a great time taking both boys to see Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile which they talked about for weeks, and waited patiently for Disney to release the animated adventure Strange World, which looked right up our alley. So we packed the kids in the car, loaded up on popcorn and candy at concession, and rushed to our seats just as trailers started. We were ready! So, was Strange World worth our time and effort?! Keep reading to find out!

I won’t post the picture here of course, but the smiles on the faces of our boys standing in front of the movie poster said it all. Strange World was a blast to experience, and above all else it offered something for everyone. Needless to say the visuals stole the show, but the voice-acting was superb and the score was great as expected, but the big surprise for me was just how powerful and impactful the story was. I thought the film had an important message regardless of how you perceive it, but what I enjoyed most was the focus on family and what it means to pave our own way in life. Strange World offers viewers a beautiful and immersive environment that will leave you in a constant state of awe, and the twists and turns will surely keep you on your toes. The film also delivered several laugh out loud moments that had the kids and adults smiling ear to ear.

For me aside from the animation the cast of voice actors are without a doubt the bread and butter of the film. The talented group is lead by Dennis Quaid and Jake Gyllenhaal as Jaeger Clade and Searcher Clade, and I really enjoyed the dynamic between these two characters. Much of the film focuses on these two in terms of what it means to be a part of the Clades family. But I mean let’s be honest, Gyllenhaal is great in pretty much everything he does, so putting him on the forefront was a good move. Gabrielle Union plays Searcher’s wife Meridian Clade, and I thought she was great as well. Jaboukie Young-White did a nice job as young Ethan Clade. The great Lucy Liu was amazing as expected as she played the role of Callisto Mal. Whether she is taking on family-friendly animated roles or beating the crap out of someone in Charlie’s Angels, Liu is easily one of the more versatile actresses working today and she deserves a ton of credit. The remaining supporting cast was great as well.

Aside from the incredible cast the visuals are a stand out as expected. Strange World is one of those films that you can just sit back and appreciate the incredible creativity that went into bringing to life every bit of this vibrant and immersive environment. Things really ramp up when the characters embark on their adventure to the unknown, but the animation in general is fantastic. I loved the look of the characters and just how fluid everything felt. The creatures in Strange World are so damn cool and are easily worth the price of admission. Right when you think you have a handle on the weirdness of what is going on, it will surprise you. I just couldn’t get enough of the vibrant colors and just watching my kids smiling and pointing at the screen every few minutes. So yeah, Disney has outdone themselves yet again.

THE BAD

I really enjoyed Strange World, but I have to say it did have a few things that sort of rubbed me the wrong way. First and foremost, and I won’t dig too deep into this because I honestly don’t care that much, but Disney is trying way too hard to be a part of the “woke” crowd. Certain elements of the film just felt overly forced to me and unnecessary, which in my mind just distracts and takes away from what is otherwise a very good film with a strong and impactful story. Also I wouldn’t necessarily consider this to be a negative because I felt like the writing was great and actually added more depth than you might expect, but the overarching message of the film will likely create some debate and rub some people the wrong way. My wife and I actually debated the film a bit and seemed to agree and disagree on a few aspects, but for my money I like when a film has you leaving the theater discussing more than just the obvious elements of the film. Even though it may not reach instant classic status, Strange World does what it sets out to do which is provide a theater experience worthy of viewers of all ages.

THE VERDICT

Jam-packed with gorgeous visuals and a spectacular cast of voice actors paving the way for this epic adventure, Strange World met my expectations and kept two high-energy toddlers entertained from start to finish. This is a fun movie that will surely satisfy you whether you want to just sit back and enjoy it as the spectacle it is, or want to dig a bit deeper into the story. It’s not an instant classic and certainly could have been better, and I do wish that Disney would take a step back and focus on what they do best instead of dividing audiences which has without a doubt impacted the films earnings. And trust me I am all for inclusivity, especially when it means all you can eat and drink at a luxurious tropical resort. Although Strange World may irritate some people in respect to the screenplay and the overall message of the film, the fact that it makes you think is an accomplishment in itself. Plus, I could listen to Jake Gyllenhaal and Dennis Quaid debate the greater purpose of life and family all day long.