Ferdinand

In this crazy mixed up world we have right now, here's a movie that reminds us the importance of being true to oneself. For a children's animated feature even the adults who bring the young ones will enjoy the message based on Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson's children's book The Story of Ferdinand. Blue Sky Studios and 20th Century Fox Animation with director Carlos Saldanha and screenwriters Robert L. Baird, Tim Federle, and Brad Copeland creates a colorful world that just received nominations for Best Animated Feature Film and Best Original Song ("Home") at the 75th Golden Globe Awards.

Young Ferdinand (voiced by Colin H. Murphy) lives on a Spanish bull ranch that trains bulls for fighting matadors in the ring. The young bulls, Valente, Guapo and Bones all dream for being the best fighters like their fathers. They mercilessly tease Ferdinand for preferring flowers over combat. When Ferdinand's father (Jeremy Sisto) doesn't return after being chosen by the matador El Primero (Miguel Ángel Silvestre), grief stricken Ferdinand manages to run away jumping on a train. Scared and lost he is rescued by a young girl Nina (Lily Day) who brings him home to her father's flower farm. Ferdinand finds true happiness with his new family surrounded by the beauty of the peaceful countryside and the smell of his favorite flowers. Until the day he grows to his full capacity and a bee sting makes everyone think that he is a mad bull. And what's a bull without a china shop bit in it.

Ferdinand (now voiced by John Cena) is captured and given a calming goat Lupe (Kate McKinnon). He's asks Lupe for her help which she interprets as becoming his fight manager. They are taken to his old farm, where he finds his friends have also grown up (Bobby Cannavale as Valente, Anthony Anderson as Bones, Peyton Manning as Guapo, and two new bulls, Tim Nordquist as Maquina and David Tennant as Angus). Valente still tries to challenge Ferdinand to fight, but Ferdinand tries to convince them there is more to life and the matador arena is a one way trip. Valente reminds him that bulls that don't fight end up at the meat farm up the hill. Now more than ever Ferdinand needs to get everyone out, enlisting the help of three hedgehogs (Gina Rodriguez as Uno, Daveed Diggs as Dos and Gabriel Iglesias as Cuatro - "we don't talk about Tres").

There are many amusing adventures, German dancing horses, and chase scenes that will entertain the young ones. Most important is that friendship and acceptance of one's differences will help each other survive in the world. We can all use a bit of that right now.
(Review by reesa)