Disney and Pixar’s newest animated movie, “Luca,” arrives on Disney+ June 18th. The film centers around Luca (voiced by Jacob Tremblay), a young Sea Monster who lives with his family and other fish near a small Italian town. His parents have cautioned him against going to the surface and avoiding humans entirely. When Alberto (Jack Dylan Grazer), another Sea Monster, encourages Luca to come up, he discovers that when they’re dry, they appear as human boys. Intrigued by Alberto's independent lifestyle and captivated by his experiences on land, Luca starts finding ways to spend more time above the water, which requires him to be increasingly dishonest with his parents. Eventually, Luca and Alberto venture into the village where they meet Giulia (Emma Berman), a local girl who’s out of school and determined to defeat the reigning champion in a local race. They view the race as an opportunity to earn money for their own Vespa—something they believe will allow them to explore the surface world—and this sets off a series of events that brings their two worlds together, culminating in the race. The animation is attractive, but I found the story felt slow and didn’t possess the special quality and emotional depth that have made so many Pixar films timeless favorites. The characters were acceptable, but they lacked the charm and appeal I've grown accustomed to from Pixar productions. I heard rumors that some people at Pixar were unhappy when “Soul” was shifted from theaters to streaming during the pandemic, and then "Luca" followed suit. In my opinion, it was absolutely the right choice; while the film is enjoyable, it’s not something destined for a huge theatrical run and is more appropriate for a debut on a streaming service. The main problem with “Luca” is that coming from a studio known for so many beloved films, it doesn't quite live up to those standards—it’s entertaining but ultimately falls short. 3 stars out of 5

Source on TMDB