If you enjoy reading my spoiler-free reviews, please follow my blog :) I've never been particularly fond of 1941’s Dumbo. It’s a good film with a familiar Disney message, but I was interested to see how they would develop a remake of a movie that runs just sixty minutes. It’s clear that changes were necessary, and people need to be more reasonable about live-action remakes not being exact copies of the originals. Animation is different from live-action, and the latter naturally lends itself to a more realistic setting, so updates to even the seemingly silly parts are inevitable. I've seen some “critics” really tear this Dumbo apart, expressing intense dislike—even calling it one of the worst films of the year! That’s quite a strong reaction against a film that improves on many aspects of its original. Yes, there are narrative problems and the dialogue can be awkward at times, but to harshly criticize the 2019 remake while praising the original as some kind of masterpiece seems unfair. Complaining about the ending in the newer version when the original’s conclusion is questionable feels hypocritical. It's also silly to complain that Dumbo isn’t always the central focus, considering he only discovers his ability to fly four minutes before the end of the 1941 film! Plus, this one runs twice as long—what did people expect? That there wouldn’t be necessary changes to the human characters? Some “critics” are even bringing up concerns about animal abuse or unnecessary depictions… Are they serious? Have they seen the original? Do they remember how it treated racism as a joke? How alcohol was used as a plot device! The 2019 Dumbo has very little in the way of animal violence, and its final message is actually against keeping animals captive or exploiting them. Anyone who criticizes that ending is either being unreasonable or isn’t even familiar with the original Dumbo. I've had enough about those “critics.” I feel drained just thinking about what they wrote. The 2019 Dumbo does have screenplay issues, though. It's undeniable. The human characters are burdened by predictable storylines and dialogue that feels like it was written by a child. While judging children’s performances isn’t entirely fair, many young actors today deliver stronger work than Nico Parker and Finley Hobbins do (and their scripts aren’t helping). Tim Burton’s distinctive visual style is definitely present, even if it occasionally becomes overwhelming. The 1941 Dumbo was tightly focused on a small setting, whereas the remake features V. A. Vandevere’s park, which feels like Disneyland. The stiff dialogue doesn't help with the movie’s pacing, and the tone could be better balanced. Still, just getting to see such a gorgeous, magnificent, and visually impressive live-action elephant come to life is truly delightful and entertaining. When a character like Dumbo makes you feel his sadness when he’s sad, or your happiness when he's happy, that shows how far the visual effects team has come—live-action feels almost real. The little elephant looks incredibly realistic. What better compliment can I give a live-action character than to say it looks and feels real? Despite these shortcomings, it remains a heartfelt story with emotional moments and a good message. It may lack consistency and overall polish technically, but I still enjoyed myself. Experiencing Dumbo’s pain, happiness, and the bond he shares with the children is special. Colin Farrell and Eva Green give solid performances, and their character arcs, though predictable, are somewhat effective. There's an unfair perception that "cliche" is a bad thing; it simply means we've seen those elements before, not that they’ve been executed better or worse. Since Dumbo is a remake of such an influential 1941 film, cliches were inevitable—it's a Disney story, after all. Ultimately, the 2019 Dumbo improves on several aspects of its predecessor. I think these movies are difficult to compare because the runtime, setting, and even the main plot are surprisingly different. However, failing to acknowledge or remember the original is a significant flaw, and can lead to hypocrisy. I’m fine with someone not enjoying this film as much as I did, but if you truly hate it, you better have good reasons. Dumbo is probably the most visually stunning and realistic live-action character Disney has produced so far. The elephant alone makes it worth seeing. His story arc is more expansive and complex than the one in the original, which may either please or disappoint viewers. To me, it worked well and ended strongly—better than the original. It’s disappointing that the screenplay couldn't keep up with Burton’s impressive visual style, even if it occasionally feels overwhelming, as well as the human characters who feel somewhat disconnected from the main story. Still, it’s an enjoyable experience at the movie theater, so go see it! Rating: B

Source on TMDB