I was able to screen this movie early thanks to Disney. All opinions are my own.
Squirrels have been one of my absolute favorite animals since I was a little kid in a stroller and we went to the park to feed them bread. When I was six we moved to Vegas where we don’t have bushy-tailed squirrels, so whenever I go out of town, part of the trip is spent trying to find as many squirrels as I can.
So when I heard that there was a movie coming out about a girl who befriends a squirrel with superpowers? I was SOLD. I knew I’d like it immediately- but would my family?
About the Movie:
Disney’s “Flora & Ulysses” is a comedy-adventure based on the Newbery Award-winning book about 10-year old Flora, an avid comic book fan and a self-avowed cynic, whose parents have recently separated. After rescuing a squirrel she names Ulysses, Flora is amazed to discover he possesses unique superhero powers which take them on an adventure of humorous complications that ultimately change Flora’s life–and her outlook–forever.
What I thought: While I knew going into this movie that it was basically made for me, I still wanted to try to have an objective view on it and whether or not it was actually as good as I hoped it would be. And I am so happy to report that it is!!
This movie had SO much heart, and humor that had me literally laughing out loud on several occasions. Flora’s personality was so unlike most kids in movies- she’s a self-described cynic, who tries not to hope but to only observe.
Flora {Matilda Lawler} is really relatable, especially to kids with shifting family dynamics. She’s going through a tough time- her parents are separated and she lives with her Mom, who just doesn’t understand her the way her Dad does. She’s very precocious but not rude, which is a hard balance to strike in film but this one nailed it. And despite being a cynic, it’s clear that she cares about those she loves- whether it be Ulysses, her family, or her friends.
Flora’s not the only great part of this movie, though. Every character is so well done- from the hysterical animal control officer {Danny Pudi} to her adorable and quirky dad {Ben Schwartz} to her novelist mother {Alyson Hannigan}. Oh and of course her new friend who moves in next door, William {Benjamin Evan Ainsworth}- who arrives suffering from temporary blindness caused by a high level of stress.
CGI animals can be… questionable sometimes- although I’m usually still game to watch them- but in this case Ulysses was awesome. His animation was seamless, he had a lot of personality, and his poetry- yes, poetry- was hilarious.
All of the characters are fun to watch, add to the story, and have true heart. Well, except maybe the animal control officer who you definitely don’t want to root for- but still like seeing on screen because he’s hilarious.
What Zac {7} thought in his own words:
I liked it a lot. Ulysses was super cute. I liked how the dad just walked away weirdly after the glass broke at the donut shop. I liked how crazy Mr. Claws was.
What Shane {11} thought in his own words:
I think it’s funny and cute. It has a lot of funny parts- I especially liked the part in the donut shop.
Notes for Parents:
I don’t really have any warnings for parents for this movie, aside from a couple of moments that very small children might get nervous at for just a moment:
- There are a couple of blink-and-you’ll-miss-them scenes with a cat named Mr. Claws that have a couple of minor jump-scares, but they’re really no big deal.
- Ulysses’s “origin story” involves a scene where it looks like he’s going to die but he of course is just fine, so you might want to warn sensitive and/or very young children about that.
But really, this movie is definitely family-friendly for anyone with kids of any age.
Stream it: Flora & Ulysses begins streaming on Disney+ THIS Friday, 2/19! Be sure to follow the hashtag #FloraAndUlysses and follow Disney+ on Twitter and Instagram for more!
Buy the Book: Flora & Ulysses is based on the award-winning book of the same name. You can pick it up to read before {or after!} you watch the movie here on {affiliate link} Amazon.
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