Flora & Ulysses, currently on Disney+ and based on the book by Kate DiCamillo, is about Flora (played by Matilda Lawler), a young girl dealing with her parents' separation, who meets Ulysses, a squirrel with abilities who she is convinced is a superhero.
This is a pretty entertaining, funny, and innovative kids' film. It does a little something new with both superhero and animal films.
The cast and characters, both primary and supporting, all do really well. Lawler may have a future ahead of her, because she is a pretty good child actor. Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, as Flora's new friend William, delivers some of the funniest lines. On the adult front, Parks and Recreation/Sonic the Hedgehog's Ben Schwartz plays Flora's father. Given that he usually plays more energetic, over-the-top characters, it was a nice change of pace seeing him play a more grounded, likable average Joe. Community's Danny Pudi plays an animal control guy hellbent on catching Ulysses. Thought Pudi does recycle the same over-confidant character he's played in Powerless and Mythic Quest, he plays it well and makes a fine foil.
Some kids and maybe adults may lose attention with this. They should like the parts with Ulysses and the other scenes that are just trying to have fun, but the more serious parts dealing with the parents' separation and the characters' personal struggles slows things down. I'm sorry but this movie is about a super-powered squirrel. That's all we're here for.
Also, the lighting in here is surprisingly not as brightly shot as most children's films. Though in fairness, the shoot may have been very overcast.
Despite the pacing issues, I do recommend this. Kids should like Ulysses and the hijinks, and the movie is distinctive enough to be a decent watch for parents.
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