Forgotten Island - Movie Review

The Forgotten Island Review

Chris Stuckmann praises The Forgotten Island as a lively, emotionally rich DreamWorks adventure and a notable animated film for its focus on Filipino culture. The story follows two best friends stranded on the mystical island of Nikali, where finding their way home may mean losing their shared memories.

He highlights the striking animation, especially the cinematic action scenes, which sometimes evoke Samurai Jack and shift aspect ratios to heighten the movement. The brisk pace can occasionally feel exhausting—Stuckmann jokes that the filmmakers must have had too much Mountain Dew Code Red—but he thinks the energy suits the adventure.

For Stuckmann, the heart of the film is the leads’ friendship and their fear of losing their childhood bond. A scene where they first meet at school even brings him to tears, reminding him of his own children making friends. He cautions that the movie includes fights and weapons at school, and that its older characters and themes may make it a better fit for older kids and adults than for very young children.

Stuckmann is especially impressed by Dave Franco’s energetic voice performance. Although he doesn’t think the film tops Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, he calls it original, respectful toward families, and worth seeing in theaters. He closes by teasing his upcoming Halloween special.

People Mentioned

• Chris Stuckmann — Reviewer
• Dave Franco — Voice performer