Dumbo - 3 1/2 smiles

It seems that many of the critics who dislike "Dumbo" dislike it because it doesn't have enough of director Tim Burton's trademark weirdness. And if it did have Burton's creepy approach to story (i.e. Alice in Wonderland), I would posit that many of these same critics would dislike the movie because of it. However, Burton's imprint is evident in the film's second half, which transpires in a futuristic amusement park that's half Disneyland and part World's Fair. "Dumbo" opens within the confines of the Medici Brothers Circus, a traveling troupe of misfits and animals that wanders the early 1900s countryside to provide entertainment to the masses. Two circus children, Milly and Joe Farrier (Nico Parker and Finley Hobbins), who have lost their mother to the 1918 influenza epidemic, are reunited with their war hero father, Holt (Colin Farrell), who has returned from battle with only one arm. Circus owner Max Medici (Danny DiVito) welcomes home the prodigal son, but can offer him only one job: elephant wrangler. His newest beast, Jumbo, is about to give birth and he needs someone to care for the little one, who turns out to have really huge, floppy ears. Disappointed by the baby's appearance, Max sells Jumbo back to her original owner, but keeps the baby, named 'Dumbo.' Milly and Joe discover that Dumbo can fly when he flaps his ears. When Max learns this, he decides to build his show around his new star. Dumbo becomes a nationwide sensation and attracts the attention of V.A. Vandevere (Michael Keaton), who arrives with his acrobatic girlfriend Colette Marchant (Eva Green), to get Dumbo to his new amusement park.

The original Dumbo was made quickly and inexpensively to cover losses mounting in the wake of the lavish, unprofitable Fantasia. Although the movie is fondly remembered, it is arguably not one of Disney's better films. For this new treatment, the filmmakers have made radical changes. Talking anthropomorphic animals have been replaced by people (with Milly and Joe taking the place of Timothy the mouse), the musical numbers have been mostly eliminated and a lot of plot has been added. (The original Dumbo was 64 minutes.) There is a strong theme about parent/child bonding that has Holt learning how to relate to Milly and Joe and Dumbo yearning to be reunited with his mother. Burton pays homage to several key elements of the 1941 film, including the importance of a 'magical feather' and a sequence that reimagines the dance of the pink elephants. Despite being a CGI creation, Dumbo steals the show with his big blue eyes. Of the two children, Nico Parker (who has the looks and poise of her mother, Thandie Newton), is the stronger performer. The adults mainly play supporting roles to Dumbo. "Dumbo" tells an engaging story about friendship and families and is certainly worth seeing.