Dumbo (2019)

My Review

“Dumbo” retells the old story of a baby elephant with oversized ears who discovers he can fly and becomes a big circus star. This attracts a greedy businessman to buy the circus and abuse Dumbo, prompting a rescue effort by his friends. Director Tim Burton (“Pee-wee’s Big Adventure” 1985) tried to update this remake of Walt Disney’s “Dumbo” (1941) with his usual off-beat charm, but it does not quite fit with the old-fashioned storyline. The mediocre screenplay by Ehren Kruger was also a factor, which was uneven and sluggish.

The cast includes Michael Keaton, Colin Farrell, Danny DeVito, Eva Green, Alan Arkin, Nico Parker (daughter of Oliver Parker and Thandiwe Newton in her big screen debut), and Edd Osmond in motion-capture performance as Dumbo. The lackluster “Dumbo” was a financial disappointment, as it did not earn enough in global theatrical release to cover the large production budget and the even larger marketing & advertising expenses. Bad news for Walt Disney Pictures, Tim Burton Productions, Secret Machine Entertainment, and The Walt Disney Company. It was filmed in England.