Abominable puts the focus on Yi, a young Chinese girl who recently lost her father. After discovering a Yeti (it turns out they're real!) on the roof of her apartment building, she embarks on an action-packed adventure alongside her friends to return her newfound furry pal home, while trying to stay one step ahead of some sinister villains determined to use the creature for their own gain. If that sounds like a relatively straightforward plot for an animated movie, that's because it is, but make no mistake about it: there are plenty of surprises to be had here in a story that delivers not only some big laughs but also proves to be one of the most lovely and heartfelt blockbusters of 2019.
DreamWorks worked closely with China to make the movie feel as authentic as possible and while that's not a bad thing for the most part, Abominable does occasionally feel like a commercial making it clear that, despite what you've heard, the country is still a great place to visit (bear in mind that the Chinese government recently banned South Park for criticising the impact they're having on entertainment by dictating how the Middle Kingdom is portrayed in film). That's ultimately a minor part of the movie and not one which should have too significant an impact on your enjoyment. Plus, there's no denying that it's immensely satisfying to see an animated adventure like this which puts the spotlight on a diverse cast of characters in a setting that's different to the norm but still feels very authentic. It's a refreshing change of pace for the genre and something we'll hopefully see more of moving forward because while it does sometimes play like a film the Chinese tourist board was heavily involved with, exploring the country's culture in a realistic way is good to see and bound to be appreciated by those with roots there.
Chloe Bennet plays Yi and her performance is fantastic from start to finish. Comic book fans will be familiar with her impressive work in
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. but the actress is on a completely different level here and it's clear that she poured her heart and soul into the role. Albert Tsai is great as Peng, while Tenzing Norgay Trainor's Jin is every bit as good and they're both a huge amount of fun to spend time with. Eddie Izzard and Sarah Paulson, meanwhile, play the movie's villains and they deliver layered performances which suit their respective characters (both of whom are quite a bit more interesting than your typical animated movie bad guys). However, it's Everest - the Yeti - who steals the show thanks to his sweet personality and plenty of excellent slapstick humour!
Visually,
Abominable is a beautiful movie full of stunning imagery which could rival even the best Pixar movie. It's not quite as emotionally complex as those but the story is undeniably strong and it will definitely tug at your heartstrings. It's a story about love and loss and friendship, and if you're looking for a movie to take your kids to as theaters start filling up with horror movies over the coming weeks, then you won't find a better choice than this. Going back to those visuals, DreamWorks Animation really have outdone themselves with this film. The
How To Train Your Dragon series looked good but this is something else and it will take no time at all for you to get caught up in this world. With any luck, we'll get the chance to revisit it in a sequel one day. Throw in a truly wonderful use of music and there's a lot here which should make this movie a serious awards contender next year.
A stunning movie led by a stellar performance from Chloe Bennet, Abominable is an absolute blast with heaps of beautiful visuals and plenty of heart.
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