Enrico Casarosa’s Luca isn’t the ground-breaking, Oscar-worthy story people are prone to expect from Pixar. But for those willing to experience the studio’s more laid-back and light-hearted works, Luca is a Pixar iteration of cinematic comfort food. From the stunning backdrop of the Italian Riviera to the summertime nostalgia of the 50’s- the movie is a treat for the eyes with plenty of heart in its portrayal of friendship, loyalty and acceptance.
Voiced by Jacob Tremblay, the titular character traverses between fantasy and reality as he finds intrigue, freedom and friendship in the world above his ocean home. Set in the picturesque fishing village of Porto Rosso, Luca is a coming-of-age story with the familiar tones of underdogs versus bullies, safety versus curiosity and fear versus acceptance. Unlike better known Pixar works, the plot for Luca doesn’t take itself too seriously, sometimes coming off as childish to the more mature audience.
The friendship between Luca and Alberto (Jack Dylan Grazer), their boyish shenanigans or their plan to win a triathlon to buy the Vespa of their dreams is a reminder of simpler times- imaginative, curious and often risky discoveries of fun. With the addition of Giulia (Emma Berman), the plot sets up the three main characters for a classic underdogs tale in the bid to win the “Porto Rosso Cup”- Porto Rosso’s annual triathlon. But that isn’t all that Luca has to offer in terms of plot points- the general fear of accepting something beyond the ordinary, the ups and downs of new friendships, as well as the thrill of discovering a whole new world beyond the safety of family, are all clogs spurring the movie forward.
Inspired by the director’s own childhood on the Italian coast, Luca isn’t anything you’ve never seen before, be it from the underdogs angle or the ET-esque fear of all that’s alien to mankind angle. But what the movie lacks in philosophical ambition, it makes up for with warmth, charm and subtleties in its visuals (the orange glow of Mediterranean sunsets, the narrow streets and cobblestone paths, or the evocations of vintage Italy and Italian movies). And for any hardened Pixar fan trying to spot familiar Easter eggs, Luca references everything from Donald Duck to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, to Fellini’s La Strada or even Pixar’s own Luxo Ball and Pizza Planet Truck spotted in a number of their other works. But perhaps the biggest Easter egg could be found in Casarosa’s nod to Hayao Miyazaki’s Porco Rosso in the naming of the fictional village- Porto Rosso.
With it’s warm and often whimsical aesthetics, the movie is a light-hearted family entertainer that aims to charm more than impress. With an IMDB rating of 7.5/10, it is definitely worth a watch be it for the animated trip to the Italian Riviera, or for the nostalgic, feel-good vibes that Luca is sure to leave in its viewers.