MOVIE REVIEWS

Family Movie Night Hope, Wonder, & Purpose

BY BONNIE L. HARRIS

DISNEY DOES IT AGAIN CGI animals with live-action crusader. She hides Ulysses in her that Ulysses has the super power with a super cute, super characters into a family friendly treehouse, but his huge appetite to bring the family together. quirky, super-duper tale that references everything for Cheetos and Pop-Tarts, not Although Ulysses is fuzzy and action caper starring a squirrel from Star Wars & comic books to mention donuts, gets Ulysses adorable, there’s a psycho named Ulysses and a perky to robo-tech & social media. into a world of trouble. Flora’s CGI cat who terrorizes several ten-year-old named Flora, who’s Although it’s a film with zany parents, both writers, try to characters and could really caught between her love of super humor and piercing wit, there are derail her faith in Ulysses while frighten younger viewers. I heroes and her despair over truly sincere moments between her new neighbor, William, love cats, but this frenzied little her parent’s separation. Flora surprisingly nuanced characters becomes her trusted ally. But beast made me cringe! The pure and Ulysses blends impressive that show how empathetic and like all super heroes, Ulysses Disney ending wraps up with an smart kids can be. has an evil nemesis in Officer eco-minded final scene where And Flora, our pint-sized Miller, who wants to exterminate Flora makes the right choice and heroine, is smart enough to anything with four feet and sets Ulysses free. But I sense a recognize that the squirrel she fur. It’s a mad cap chase to save fun-filled sequel when Ulysses, saved from a crazy techno- Ulysses that ends at Animal from his new forest home, gazes vacuum has been transformed Control Headquarters where upon Metropolis and gives us a into a furry, poetry-writing Flora’s parents finally realize big wink. ✦

FLORA AND ULYSSES

Walt Disney Pictures Rated: PG Streaming on Disney Plus Flora saves a special squirrel.

FOR the PARENTS

Faith in Family

MINARI A24 Films, Rated: PG-13 In theatres & streaming on Amazon

RARELY DOES A subtitled film like the indie feature, Minari, capture Hollywood’s attention, but this poignant drama about a Korean family’s search for the American dream deserves the acclaim. It’s a thought-provoking story set in Arkansas in the 1980’s that’s not only raw and powerful, but also humorous, unusual, and completely genuine. The first few minutes reveal the family’s struggle with English as they arrive in the unfamiliar rural community and the subtitles become a window into Korean culture. Jacob, the father, dreams of growing Korean vegetables on his own land while his wife,

Monica, remains unsatisfied with this strange, isolated existence.

Their young children, Anne and David, bridge the divide between

Korean and American pop culture, but their parents’ financial troubles overshadow everyday life. When Monica’s mother, Soon-ja, joins the family in their dilapidated mobile home, the culture clash increases. Jacob works tirelessly, but a lack of water, finicky buyers, and an unstable farm hand threaten to overwhelm him while David struggles to get along with his odd grandmother. In a moment of doubt, Jacob and Monica almost separate, but a near tragedy forces them to reassess their priorities. In the end, the family survives on faith and the will to succeed.

A father teaches his son.