Luca Pays Homage to Filmmakers Childhood and Italian Village

 

 

 

 

Everyone growing up has that one friend that always a little on the wild side trying to loop you into the madness of their world.  At first, it can feel exciting and an adventure that you would never encounter on your own. Disney Pixar’s Luca is a fun and heartwarming story focused on exactly that premise through the eyes of Luca (Jacob Tremblay), Alberto (Jack Dylan Grazer) and Guilia (Emma Berman) whose cpllective friendship forces them each to step out of their comfort zone forever changing their gaze on life. It truly is a magical coming-of-age-story about remembering the people who have shaped us along the way.

Luca, heavily protected by his parental units, Lorenzo (Jim Gaffigan) and Daniela (Maya Rudolph) is longing go beyond the sea onto the surface.  After all, he’s gleefully captured various knick knacks that have found their way in his direction.  Enter Alberto, a fellow sea monster who has been beyond the surface, making him the subject of intense respect and adulation from Luca.  Turns out, sea monsters have the ability to blend in with humans as these sea monsters have the magical ability to transform into human form when they’re dry.

Paying homage to the Italian fishing village he grew up in, director Enrico Cassarosa captures the sights, sounds of nature and colors of his beloved Genoa so authentically one could swear you can smell the shore, taste the pasta.  The sweeping overview of the town, left me with the overwhelming joy of what  a child will discover while soaking in the their outdoor surroundings for the very first time. The voice cast is about as good as it gets and Luca’s parents Lorenzo and Daniela, voice by the fantabulous Jim Gaffigan and Maya Rudolph are hilarious.  When Daniela busts out those dolphin impersonations, your side will split from laughing and all three leads Jacob Tremblay, Jack Dylan Grazer and Emma Berman bring so much vivacity and elation to their characters that you never doubt them for one  iota of a  second.  Little girls will be especially thrilled by Guilia’s determination to accomplish her goals and dreams by any means necessary.  I seriously wanted to run out and  by a Vespa after screening this one and I am totally NOT the scooter or motorcycle type. Of course, the attention to detail is a quality synonmous with this studio and is kept fiercely in tact for this title, as usual.  It’s enough to make you book a flight to Italia.

Produced by Disney Pixar, LUCA release simultaneoulsy in theatres and on Disney Plus on June 18th.