Pete's Dragon

PETE'S DRAGON

Director : David Lowery

Year : 2016

Genre : Family

Rating : ***

While it may share the same title as the 1977 Disney musical classic, David Lowery's re-imagining of 'Pete's Dragon' could not differ more in both tone and plot. And all the better for it. After being orphaned in a tragic crash, little Pete (played by Oakes Fegley) finds himself lost in the forest where he is befriended by a giant, fluffy green dragon. Christening the mystical creature Elliot, Pete and his new guardian  enjoy a solitary yet happy life together - thanks in most part to the dragon's unique ability of camouflage which protects them from any of the dangers of the outside world. However, when a group of loggers (led by 'Star Trek' and 'Lord Of The Rings' star Karl Urban) enter the woods to cut down it's towering trees, it isn't long before the unlikely pair's blissful existence is soon threatened.

While it may not have the strength and heart of some of Disney's more successful remakes, this new version of 'Pete's Dragon' takes what was, at best, a passable family film and transforms it into a sweet and memorable cinematic experience with much more fire in it's belly - replacing the cheesy songs and goofy tone of it's unmemorable predecessor with heartfelt and, at time, heartbreaking emotion, a number of thrilling action set pieces and more than a few scenes of genuine threat and danger. Newcomer Owen Fegley delivers a likable central performance that is far more nuanced and believable than that of his 1977 counterpart while the adorable Elliot - bought to life thanks to some very impressive CGI work - provides the film with a great amount of fun and cuteness. Throw in a couple of spectacular flying sequences that rival those of the similarly themed 'How To Train Your Dragon' series and you have a film that doesn't quite have the magic of Jon Favreau's recent re-imagining of 'The Jungle Book' but one that still manages to fully entertain children and adults alike thanks to it's fine performances, beautifully naturalistic cinematography and it's irresistibly cute computer generated star.