Pete's Dragon

Pete's Dragon was one of those older Disney films I wasn't raised on. I heard of it but I never saw it in full. But I did see its cinematic update, Pete's Dragon, and it's a cinematic update which justifies itself.

Young Pete is the sole survivor of a car crash which killed his folks. He's saved from a pack of wolves by a giant friendly dragon he names Elliott. Years later, Pete (Oakes Fegley) is a feral child living with Elliot. Forest Ranger Grace Meacham (Bryce Dallas Howard), her fiance Jack (Wes Bentley), and his daughter Natalie (Oona Laurence), find Pete and bring him to civilization. Elliott sets out to find him. Jack's brother Gavin (Karl Urban) wants to find Elliot too. Grace's father (Robert Redford) is glad that the Dragon he saw years ago is real.

That's about it for plot. But that's not bad.

David Lowery (Ain't Them Bodies Saints) and his co-writer, Toby Halbrooks, completely rewrite the old story for their film. No musical numbers, no comically abusive step-families or comical villains. It has Pete, a Dragon who turns invisible, a kind old man and his daughter and that's about it. The tone is closer to E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial than Mary Poppins or Bedknobs and Broomsticks. That and Elliott's un-cartoony redesign might alienate fans of the original. But it didn't alienate me.

That's because there's a fine cast of characters. Pete and Elliott's endearing friendship drives the plot. They're both likable and believable characters even if one of them is CGI. The same goes for Pete's new human family. Even the villain, Gavin, is sympathetic. Their actions keep the audience attentive for 102 minutes.

Once again, Elliott is a great CGI creation which looks real at times. His greatest achievement is his sounds, You'd think it's entirely sound effects, but the main element is voice actor John Kassir. The end result sounds like a genuine animal. The cinematography by Bojan Bazelli brings out the visual best in Elliott and his environments, while Daniel Hart's score sets the majestic tone. There's also a nice collection of songs on the soundtrack.

The only real flaw in Pete's Dragon is a few unexplained things, like Elliott suddenly growing weaker near the end. What caused it? His bond with Pete? Heartbreak? But that's a minor issue in the grand scheme of things. Pete's Dragon is sure to become as memorable as the original. It's one of the best films in a mostly average summer.