What story? For all the technological breakthroughs the plot is pure Disney formula (wisecracking comic relief obligatory romance) set in the Cretaceous period. Visually captivating but thin in plot “Dinosaur” tells the tale of a spunky Iguanadon (voiced by D.B. Sweeney) who joins a quirky band of dinos on a quest for self-discovery and a new land.
The competent voice cast includes Samuel E. Wright (Sebastian the Crab from “The Little Mermaid”) as the crusty dinosaur leader and Julianna Margulies (TV’s “ER”) as the lizard that steals our hero’s heart. But the real credit belongs to the animators who obviously went to great lengths to create expressive faces on our dino friends. It’s a shame that Disney who refrained from the routine singsongs and cheesy ballads couldn’t have exercised more restraint and kept these dinosaurs silent. It would’ve been far more thrilling to see these beasts interact as they may have done millions of years ago rather than spouting forgettable quips. James Newton Howard‘s score provides all the audio needed.
It took five years to create this film and it shows. Directors Ralph Zondag and Eric Leighton (supervising animator on “A Nightmare Before Christmas”) deserve high praise for their innovative blend of filmed settings and CGI wizardry. Last year’s “Toy Story 2” was a party for the peepers but “Dinosaur” sets a new standard in the “How’d they do that?” department. Parents take note: The film’s violent dino battles are scarier than the dino Happy Meal you bought to get the dino toys.
