Drew’s Review: ‘Forgotten Island’ explores friendship, love, memories — and tough choices
I recently attended a Monday Mystery Movie night at my local Cinemark. Tickets are five bucks. You have no idea what you’re going to see. As the expression goes, you just roll the dice.
This particular night opened with movie trailers for kid-oriented movies so I braced myself for what might follow -- not that movies for kids are necessarily bad. The final trailer was for the movie “Forgotten Island.” Before it was even over, I turned to my friend sitting next to me and whispered, “That’s a movie I never, ever want to see.”
Just a few moments later, a full-screen image appeared welcoming everyone in the theater to a special preview screening of -- you guessed it -- "Forgotten Island.” My friend laughed. I just shook my head.
Let’s face it, movie trailers are often better than the actual movies they are advertising. Even bad movies have exciting trailers. I wondered how bad a movie with a bad trailer could possibly be and prepared myself for what looked to be two wasted hours of my ever-dwindling life.
Happily, I was wrong. Much to my surprise, “Forgotten Island” quickly drew me into a modern-day Alice in Wonderland tale about two best childhood friends who find themselves transported to a magical, mystical world of Nakali.
Granted, the storyline of characters being cast into bizarre alternate realities has become a common theme in the movies, particularly in animated films where digital effects can create mind-bending worlds of wonder. “Forgotten Island” is no exception. The ads made me think I had seen it all before.
To its credit, “Forgotten Island” makes the most of a well-worn theme, elevating it to an exhilarating movie experience. It’s the latest release from DreamWorks, whose previous hits include: the “Shrek,” “Kung Fu Panda” and “Puss in Boots” movies. Their track record is impressive. “Forgotten Island’s” co-creators are Joel Crawford and Januel P. Mercado, who collaborated on “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” (2022).
From the start, “Forgotten Island” purposefully strays off the beaten path with the introduction of two rebellious schoolgirls in the Philippines back in the 1990s, both of whom land in the principal’s office one day. Jo (voiced by H.E.R.) and Raissa (voiced by Liza Soberano) instantly bond, create funky matching bracelets, and vow to be lifelong friends. It all goes well until years later when Raissa is accepted to Cal Tech, forcing her to leave Jo behind, forever stuck behind the cash register of a fast-food chain, wearing a ridiculous, chicken-themed uniform.
Their final night together on the beach takes a strange turn when the water near the shore begins to glow, opening into a churning portal that sweeps them both into a strange, hallucinogenic world, populated by bizarre creatures adapted from Filipino folklore.
They include Raww, a seemingly friendly weredog (voiced by Dave Franco); Bungi, a blue, Suma-sized, three-eyed baby; Prince Mermahn, a flamboyant character with pink, starfish pasties; and an army of cute, little mushroom people led by King Truffle Wuffle, who really hates being called “cute.”
On the darker side, there is Manang, a frighteningly scary witch (who bears a strong resemblance to Maleficent), and Batiba, a creepy, reclusive memory demon who promises to return them home in exchange for some of their most precious memories.
“Forgotten Island” is all about friendship, love, memories and the tough choices we must all make as we grow up. It’s a journey of self-discovery.
What makes it rise above its well-worn storyline is the energy, fun and craziness the movie exudes, taking every opportunity to amuse and entertain. The visuals often joltingly hyper-leap across animation styles for maximum comedic effect
The running gags include a dog character who sled slides like dogs sometime do, and repeated cutaway shots of the famous sacred heart image of Jesus silently witnessing all the insanity and mayhem in what appears to be utter disbelief.
Watch: FORGOTTEN ISLAND | Official Trailer
There is plenty of insanity in this manic cartoon adventure that looks like it might have been dreamed up during an all-night writing session fueled by a case of Red Bull. Case in point, after waking up following 12 hours neither Jo nor Raissa can remember, Jo finds herself with a partially inked tattoo and Raissa discovers half her hair has been shaved off and she now sports a pair of bat-like “wiings” (as spelled in the Red Bull ads).
It’s a cool nod to 2009’s “The Hangover,” with characters on a mission to discover what exactly happened during what surely must have been one very wild night.
“Forgotten Island” is rated PG (for the scary action, language, rude humor, thematic elements, some violence and brief tobacco imagery). Despite the disclaimers, it’s a movie that’s much funnier than the misleading trailers.
Drew’s Take:
DreamWorks is back with “Forgotten Island,” a crazy, modern-day "Alice in Wonderland" animated comedy about friendship and the preciousness of shared experiences and memories.
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