LUCA

US/Italy, 2021, 95 minutes, Colour.

Voices of: Jacob Tremblay, Jack Dylan Grazer, Emma Berman, Saverio Raimondo, Maya Rudolph, Marco Baricelli, Jim Gaffigan, Sandy Martin, Sacha Baron Cohen.

Directed by Enrico Casarosa.a.

Pixar Jr. Pixar for kids – especially for little boys. However, after the first half hour and our getting to know Luca and Alberto, enter Julia, and the film becomes especially for little girls as well. There are some parents in the plot, so a film for parents who will be glad that their youngsters are enjoying it.

It is also Italian Pixar, an Italian story, an island setting off the north-western Italian coast near Genoa, most of the characters speaking at kind of Italian broken English accent (but the sea creatures speaking with American accents). The setting seems to be the 1950s with a huge focus on the popularity of the Vespa. Movie fans who might be wondering about the setting will notice that there are some posters on the walls in the town, especially for Roman Holiday, La Strada, 20,000 Leagues under the Sea – the latter two being released in 1954 so that gives something of a date.

But, in fact, it is Pixar underwater. With echoes of The Little Mermaid in reverse, or a cousin to Finding Nemo and Finding Dory, we are introduced to a family who are, most unjustly, labelled by the humans who loathe them as they go fishing, “sea monsters”. (The fisherman are also upset because they blame their losing lots of their possessions overboard with the sea monsters upsetting the boats – and, when we are introduced to Alberto, we see they have some reason.)

While the sea monsters look different, mop hair, bluish features, they look and sound just like your ordinary suburban family except that they live under the sea! They are also wary of going to the surface and fearful of humans. Luca is the only son (voiced by Jacob Tremblay, so effective in Room and Wonder). As he discovers some of the lost human possessions on the seabed, he encounters Alberto (voiced by Jonathan Glazer). Luca ventures to the surface, goes to Alberto’s tree house, discovers the wonders of the Vespa, spends the day working with Alberto, enjoying life on the surface.

The added advantage is that once the sea monsters come out of the water they take human shape – and the danger, of course, that back in the water, they look again like the sea monsters they are.

Parents are worried, call in an uncle who lives in the depths of the sea alone (voiced by Sacha Baron Cohen – who has another minute of screen time after the last of the very long credits). Luca runs away and he and Alberto go to the town.

What follows are a whole lot of comic adventures, befriending Julia (voiced by Emma Berman), staying at her house with her father and working for him, discovering there is a marathon competition involving cycling and swimming – and pasta consumption. Julia has failed in the past and is mocked by the most obnoxious town bully, Ercole, and his sycophantic friends. So, lots of competition, training, Luca exhilarated by bike riding, Alberto becoming a bit jealous of Julia’s attentions to Luca, giving him books to read, showing him a telescope. And, then, the parents come to town, transformed into humans, with lots of water to throw on the children so that they can find Luca!

With the happy ending, it means that Luca can be taken as something of a parable about outsiders, a different way of life, under suspicion, coming into a community, the community wary, the outsiders proving themselves, more than compatible, and finally being accepted. Memories of so many refugees coming to Europe in the 2010s

So, entertainment for youngsters, a pleasant experience for the parents, and some strong social messaging.

1. Pixar animation for younger audiences, the young boys, and a lively heroine for young girls? Family entertainment?
2. The Italian settings, the north-western coast, the islands, the town, fishing, cafes, homes, the competition? The contrast with under the sea, the homes of the sea monsters, the fish?
3. The sea monsters and the parallels with humans, home life, activities, minding the children, domestic, grandma? In the visuals of the sea monsters, their appearance? And the transforming when they came onshore?
4. The Italian music, songs, Opera? The 1950s, the film posters and Roman Holiday…?
5. Italy and the Vespa, the machines, riding, freedom and exhilaration? The goal?
6. The variation on fairytales, the reverse of the Little Mermaid? Finding Nemo, finding Dory? Audiences suspending disbelief, accepting the sea monster family, the ventures on land, the intermingling with the humans?
7. The film is being seen as the story of outsiders, isolated, fearful, starting to mix with humans, disguising themselves, gradually doing human things, finally becoming accepted? The 21^st-century tale with memories of migration, especially to Italy and the European Union?
8. Luca, his age, his voice, at home, his parents, with all the police, gathering together? The boats on the surface, his going to the surface and unable to break through?
9. The fishermen, the antagonism towards the sea monsters, losing their goods overboard? Luca finding them, Alberto arriving, collecting, taking them to the surface, his treehouse? Alberto, his age, independent? His friendship with Luca, persuading him to come onshore, the human transformation, Luca and his fascination with the treehouse, the ad for the Vespa, Alberto and his imagination, the drawing, wanting to build a Vespa, Luca delaying leaving and helping, eventually going home? His grandmother saving the day (and out later finding out that she used to go every week onshore!)
10. Luca and Alberto, strong friendship, sharing the experiences? Luca and the threat of being sent to the depths, the visits of his serious uncle? His running away from home? Going to the town?
11. The discoveries in the town, the encounter with Julia, the antagonism of Ercole and his friends? The prospect of the race, the prize?
12. Julia, strong personality, at school in Genoa, coming for the summer holiday, in the race, her being sick, her determination to win? Helping Alberto and Luca, inviting them home, her father, getting them to do jobs? And the dangers they getting wet and having to hide themselves to a dry?
13. Training for the race, Luca and his riding the bike, heavy uphill, crashes on the downslope? The taunts from Ercole, his being a bully?
14. The preparation for the race, Luca and his all action earlier, all all books, the telescope, wanting to learn? All all Alberto and his jealousy? His malevolent actions? Jean Luca into the sea?
15. In the race itself, Julia, Ercole and his attacks, Luca and his perseverance – despite being revealed?
16. Lucas parents, the decision to come ashore, searching for their son, pushing people into the fountain, pouring water on them? The reconciliation with Luca?
17. Alberto, reconciling with Luca, running away, Luca finding him and the treehouse, his selling the Vespa, the ticket for Luca to go to Genoa, to go to school?
18. A pleasing animation film for younger audiences – and for the parents?