Whether it be from a place from a classic novel like Alice in Wonderland or the nation of Wakanda, mythical locales have fascinated audiences for centuries. Personally, I would not mind going to places like “The Enchanted Forest” or even Santa’s Workshop, but what happens when you actually get the chance to go there? That’s at the center of Forgotten Island.
Directed by Joel Crawford (Trolls Holiday) and Januel Mercado (Puss in Boots: The Last Wish) and a voice cast that includes H.E.R., Liza Soberano, Lea Salonga, Dave Franco, and Manny Jacinto, Jo (H.E.R.) and Raissa (Soberano) are best friends who grew up together in the Philippines listening to Jo’s grandmother tell stories about the mythical island of Nakali. Raissa reveals to Jo that she is going to Caltech right after high school, but the night before she is to leave they find a magical item that lands them on the beaches of that very island. While there, they meet up with other characters trying to get their memory of what happened when they arrived while avoiding the evil that chases them down.
Overall, I enjoyed this story with its great mix of emotion and comedy. At about 110 minutes long, I was pleased to see it was paced well. If I have one issue, it would be that the plot does get a bit complicated for younger children, even though I feel that it is good for the entire family. And add to that something I don’t say often in the fact that I loved the soundtrack with the songs being played during the exact right moments. Seeing it in Dolby Cinema made the songs pop that much more, and I may even get the soundtrack.
The animation itself simply blew me away, which was also enhanced in Dolby Vision. I do know that when released, there will be a 3D option in some theaters, but I feel that would have put me into sensory overload. The style really reminded me of The Book of Life, and this could be considered a family-friendly version of The Hangover. So, I will definitely recommend Forgotten Island to be seen for full price in the theaters in a premium format like IMAX or 3-D.