It’s a rough time for the circus owned by Max Medici (Danny DeVito). When a baby elephant is born, he enlists his former horse-riding star Holt Farrier (Colin Farrell) and his children Milly (Nico Parker) and Joe (Finley Hobbins) to care for him. Dumbo builds upon the story first told by Disney animation in 1941. As with the original, the very things that get Dumbo down take him up up up. And as Dumbo goes from being down to up, so does Medici and his circus!
Quality
The quality of Dumbo really is impressive to watch at home. The title character is a digital character and with how cute the original version was, there is definitely a risk involved with re-making it. All of that being said, Tim Burton brought his own creative approach and feel to this movie and it looks and sounds impressive. There are a few moments in the film that I raised my eyebrow at, however… I’m not sure if that was an issue with the quality or a stylistic choice at times.
Extras
The extras for Dumbo take a look at the making of the movie and really add quite a bit to the movie. As the curtain is pulled away from the magic that was used to make the movie, the movie becomes even more magical! The bonus features added depth to how the movie was made along with the people who made it. Here are the bonus features that were included with Dumbo:
BLU-RAY & DIGITAL HD:
- CIRCUS SPECTACULARS: Dumbo’s cast share their experience of making the film—and get to the heart of a story about family and believing in yourself.
- THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM: Explore how one of Disney’s most lovable characters went from an animated classic to a stunning live-action retelling.
- BUILT TO AMAZE: Get a closer look at the film’s production and costume design.
- DELETED SCENES: A compelling collection of scenes that almost made the final film.
- Roustabout Rufus
- Pachyderm Plans
- The Other Medici Brother
- Monkey Business
- A Star Is Born
- Where’s Dumbo
- Elephant Heist
- A Seat at the Show
- EASTER EGGS ON PARADE: Discover the hidden and not-so-hidden nods to the animated Dumbo in this narrated tribute to the Disney classic.
- CLOWNING AROUND: Laugh along with the cast in a collection of big-top bloopers and goofs from the set.
- “BABY MINE”: Visual video performed by Arcade Fire
DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE:
- DREAMLAND – ANATOMY OF A SCENE: From Final Script to Final Scene: The filmmakers and cast talk a lot about the feeling of “grand intimacy” in the film. Step right up as they bring the Dreamland parade to life, accomplishing the rare marriage of a massive spectacle combined with an emotional tenderness.
I really enjoyed watching The Elephant in the Room and also Circus Spectaculars. The first, in particular, really surprised me in how they created Dumbo for this film!
Final Thoughts
There is a lot of risk in returning to recreate the original Disney animated classics. Dumbo faced that risk head-on. In some ways, it succeeded in tackling this story and expanding on it. It is cute, it has memorable moments, and it also has a good moral to it. However, at the end of the day, it still seems like it needs something. I enjoyed watching the movie but it didn’t blow me away in the same way that some other movies had. However, that being said. It’s an enjoyable and adorable movie. It has some nice nods to the original. It’s worth watching and I enjoyed watching it again. It is worth putting into your Disney home entertainment library and I actually think I enjoyed watching it at home more than I did in the theater.
