Netflix Nourishment: 68th Edition

Brandon Vick reviews The Wonder and My Father's Dragon on the latest installment of Netflix Nourishment!

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THE WONDER

Based on the novel by Emma Donoghue, Sebastián Lelio’s (writer/director of A Fantastic Woman) beguiling period drama of science combating blind faith is thought-provoking and quietly moving. In what begins as an intriguing mystery converts into a morality tale where themes of loss, grief, religious fervor, and salvation are heavily intertwined. Lib Wright (Florence Pugh) is an English nurse who has been called to a small Irish village to observe Anna O’Donnell (Kíla Lord Cassidy) – an eleven year-old girl who is a living miracle. She’s alive and kicking after having not eaten for four months, and while many view her as a saint, Lib believes there’s something more threatening transpiring that’s masking the truth.

The alluring atmosphere and setting does wonders while Lelio shapes this story that slowly builds to the answers we seek; though, that’s not to say it doesn’t leave questions meant to challenge us on our beliefs and their power on how we choose to live. Young Cassidy is terrific as Anna who’s devotion feels dangerous as a change in her health happens. But the reason for her fasting, as her family sits and watches, is more alarming than anything else presented in the film. Last but not least, we’re once again graced by another stellar performance from Pugh where it’s no wonder as to why she’s so marvelously befitting for this kind of material. Lib has her own past that haunts her, but she stays steadfast in understanding Anna and her manifesting martyrdom as their clash of wills finally come to a head.

MY FATHER’S DRAGON

While it certainly exists for the youngest of viewers, we can all find pleasure in this sweet and imaginative animated adventure about the strength found in friendship and not letting fear define who you are and what you can achieve. Featuring voice work from Jacob Tremblay, Gaten Matarazzo, Ian McShane, Judy Greer, and Whoopi Goldberg, it’s a mythical tale of a young boy who travels to Wild Island to rescue an atypical dragon with a broken wing who’s scared of water and fire. Together, they will go on a perilous quest to save the island from drowning while giving the boy what he unknowingly needs to start a new life in the city with his mother. The whimsical yet gentle approach from director Nora Twomey (The Breadwinner) and writer Meg LeFauve (Inside Out) provides a beautiful and blissful exploration from a child’s perspective. However, it’s quite evident that Cartoon Saloon’s latest is much lighter and less emotionally engaging than their previous work like Wolfwalkers and The Secret of Kells. Fortunately what stays the same is the grand and gorgeous animation that they do so well.

Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association and the Southeastern Film Critics Association, the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and the star of The Vick’s Flicks Podcast. Follow him on Twitter @SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.

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