Director: David Feiss Lead Cast: Voiced by Brianna Denski, Jennifer Garner,
Matthew Broderick, Mila Kunis, Norbert Leo Butz Screenwriters: Josh
Appelbaum, André Nemec Producers: Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec
Editor: Edie Ichioka Musical Director: Steven Price
Cinematographer: Juan García Gonzalez Genre: Fantasy,
Adventure, Animation Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Location: California, USA Running Time: 1 hr 25 min
Technical assessment: 3
Moral assessment: 4
CINEMA rating: AA
MTRCB rating: G
June (voiced by Brianna Denski)
is only ten but her grasp of engineering is way beyond her years. Her genius
and imagination are encouraged by Mom (Jennifer Garner) and Dad (Matthew
Broderick). Dad even pays the bill when June’s engineering experiments damage
the neighbors’ yard and smash their windows. Undaunted, June and Mom team up to
create the blueprint for Wonder Park, where every child can find every possible
ride and amusement he can wish for. But June’s imaginary park collapses when
Mom falls ill. June wanders into the forest one day and finds the park there,
decrepit with a dark cloud descending on it. Together with her animal friends,
June saves the park from destruction.
The movie takes
the path with the least harm. Loss, illness, separation,
depression, anxiety—all these traumas are neutralized for children’s
consumption. For that, we give credit to the makers of the movie.
But stripped of its impact as well is the wonder in Wonder Park. Neither
the visuals nor the sounds render the park awesome as it should be.
Even June doesn’t endear herself to the audience, many of whom are
children. We were hoping she’d charm us like the little girl Boo
in Monsters Inc., and her friends Sulley and Wazowski. Perhaps it’s because Wonder
Park doesn’t unravel June’s character long enough for us to appreciate
her. It’s as if the movie is in haste to usher
in the theme of loss and depression, and get them over
with as quickly.
What the movie lacks in technical execution, it compensates in moral
lessons. It is as much a learning journey for children as it is for parents.
It’s a confidence booster, assuring children that they are loved and valued,
they are the “wonder in Wonderland”. Notice the way Mom and Dad install the
balance between fantasy and reality and the way they convey this lesson to June.
Without extinguishing her confidence and imagination, they tell her to continue
dreaming and trying, but without endangering herself and those around
her. Of course, in real life, it is next to impossible to not
go ballistic when a child’s adventures threaten life and property. Still, the
movie conveys the positive message so well we leave the theater light and cheery.—MOE
