[REVIEW] Luca (2021) Spoke to Me on a Very Personal Level

 

Just like the character of Luca, we sometimes need to say, "Silenzio, Bruno!" and take a leap of faith.

On the 16th of June, DisneyPlus premiered a little film known as Luca, the latest creation from Disney Pixar animation about the adventures of two young sea creatures, but to say that the movie has received mixed reactions since its debut would seem like an understatement.

Some have absolutely adored the film, and some have found it too simplistic, or just straight-up boring. As for me, though? Well, it became an instant favorite of mine, and today, I wanted to explain why and share the personal connection I've formed with the character of Luca.

Written by Jesse Andrews and Mike Jones, the latest Disney Pixar animation "Luca" is a coming-of-age story about a young boy who sets out on a fun-filled adventure with his new friend, Alberto, to a charming seaside town on the Italian Riviera. But the two of them have a big secret that could potentially ruin all of their excitement: Luca and Alberto are both sea creatures from another world that's just below the water's surface.

The film was directed by Enrico Casarosa, produced by Andrea Warren, and features voice work by actors Jack Dylan Grazer as Alberto, and Jacob Tremblay as Luca.

The story of Luca is not overly complicated, it's about two friends who find adventure together, pretty straightforward and to the point. But, that said, so much of this story can be interpreted in many different ways depending on what aspects of the movie are most relatable for you.

For me, it's the story of Luca developing the ability to overcome that spoke to me on a much more personal level; thanks in part to the new friendship he forms with the boisterous Alberto, Luca takes a huge risk by leaving behind the sea, and everything he's ever known in order to venture out into the human world and explore life outside of his comfort zone and speaking as someone who has a difficult time coming out of her shell, this felt very inspiring to me.

At the beginning of the movie, Alberto shows his new friend Luca how he can do more of what scares him by silencing the "Bruno" in his head, the pesky little voice that continuously tries to convince us to doubt ourselves, and question what we are truly capable of, and when the two are presented with tough challenges, they frequently repeat the words, "Silenzio, Bruno!" in an effort to push out their more negative thoughts and take a walk on the wild side.

Luca had to actively choose to block out his fear, to allow himself the chance to move forward and try regardless of what the voice in his head was telling him, and in the process, he came to realize just how capable he truly was; Luca's story put emphasis on the reality that our fear will never just "poof" and disappear from our lives, but also reveals that we all have an inner strength that can prevent it from controlling what we do.

Just like the character of Luca, we sometimes need to say, "Silenzio, Bruno!" and take a leap of faith rather than allowing our own worries and doubts to keep us from experiencing all sorts of new and exciting things. Of course, it's not always easy, but the sense of pride we feel after we overcome, and surprise ourselves, makes it all worthwhile, and this movie served as quite the nice little reminder of that for me.

I have struggled with an anxiety disorder from an incredibly young age, and while I have been vocal about this through social media, it can be difficult to describe how much it can affect and interfere with my life, and when I'm going through a particularly hard time, it sometimes seems easier to stay tucked away in my shell, avoiding failure, or embarrassment.

But the truth is, I will never be able to find happiness that way; Luca found happiness in his friendship with Alberto, someone who helped him to change his mindset, and encourage him to come out of his shell and take a few risks, and it's because of Luca's willingness to take a chance, that he ended up with a life full of endless possibilities, something I want, too.

And my appreciation for this film doesn't stop at the message I was able to take away from it. The animation was superb as per usual in the case of Disney Pixar, it's fun, and full of laughs all while maintaining a pretty chill vibe, which makes for a great comfort movie.

Overall, Luca was a delightful viewing experience for me, and while I can understand how some may have seen the film as boring, I found it to be very soothing; watching a friendship grow between two characters as they dream of cruising around on a Vespa motorscooter together, exploring all of Italy, felt very wholesome. And the fact that they had to keep dry in order to conceal their identities from the human world added a creative twist.

What did you think of the latest from Disney Pixar? Did you enjoy Luca? I'd love to know what your thoughts were on the movie, so please be sure to leave me a comment below, and don't forget to follow me over on Twitter @RR_Everything, where I talk about all of the shows and movies that I watch and also provide updates on future content!