#REVIEW: “LUCA”

By Mr. Will Wong

Enrico Casarosa who has served in a creative capacity on films like Toy Story 4, Onward and Soul in recent years for Disney and Pixar, makes his directorial debut in LUCA. The charming Film set in the ’50s on the Italian Riviera, captures the magic of the quintessential Summer coming-of-age story in two young boys.

LUCA centers on its titular character (voiced by Canada’s Jacob Tremblay) and his free-spirited best friend Alberto (Jack Dylan Grazer). Both boys live with the secret that they are both Sea Monsters.  Upon contact with water, their true selves are revealed, while on-land they appear as humans.  Curious about life above water, Alberto shows Luca how to blend among humans, and they befriend Giulia (Emma Berman). Annually in Portorosso, a race is held with the winner being awarded a Vespa and the boys make it their goal to win it.  A bully named Ercole (Saverio Raimondo) however, won’t make it easy for them, as he’s out to hunt the rumoured Sea Monsters that have been haunting the town and also ensure that both Luca and Alberta aren’t welcome at all.

There are so many ways in which Luca is allegorical and can be interpreted, but at the heart of the story is a message of boys at a crucial stage in their lives.  It questions at what costs it comes for these boys to conceal their true selves when others around them have been taught to hate them, and surely this sense of other-ness is something that many can connect to. With the onset of rain, their worlds could unravel completely with their Sea Monster identities being revealed, and the people of Portorosso want their kind eliminated. Casarosa crafts well an imminent sense of danger, and also captures the beauty of friendship between boys in a way that is refreshing and unadulterated.

Recreating the stunning Italian Riviera surely was a big undertaking. Scenes on land and under water have a startling realism to them, while still feeling like we are seeing the world through the eyes of two young boys for the first time.  Our stars Tremblay and Grazer pair wonderfully with one another. The former builds on his repertoire as the sweet, mild-mannered boy finding his own voice and is effective here, while Grazer‘s outgoingness is infectious, though bringing a deeper layer of awareness to the role. We almost wish he was our best friend growing-up.  While the Film takes a bit to find its best footing, the Film soars with emotion in its Final Act, making it all worthwhile.

LUCA arrives on Disney+ Friday, June 18, 2021.