Here is some “child-friendly’ ‘dark comedy for you to watch with your kids as you all sit locked up at home. Netflix’s latest animated film The Willoughbys follows four gifted children as they plot to get rid of their negligent and callous parents!
What results is a grim plot with mischief reigning throughout the 1 hour 30 minutes of its run. The Willoughbys is already airing on the popular streaming platform since the morning of April 23.
Watch the trailer of The Willoughbys here:
The book-to-film adaptation is based on Lois Lowry’s 2008 — slightly darker — children’s novel of the same name.
The four Willoughby children (Will Forte, Alessia Cara, and Seán Cullen playing two twins, both named Barnaby) are tired of being neglected by their parents (Martin Short, Jane Krakowski).
So they decide to send the parents off on a dangerous vacation and hope for them to never return. Why? Because they feel that as orphans, they are likely to get more sympathy and love. (The kids these days!)
A touch of the classics
The film is narrated by a sarcastic cat (Ricky Gervais), resembling the Cheshire cat from the children’s classic Alice in Wonderland.
Going forth, we have many references to our favorite children’s stories, like the Willy Wonka-esque candyman (Terry Crews), who helps the kids send their parents on a fake vacation.
Or the many booby traps laid out by the four siblings against burglars when they are home alone. (No points for guessing there!)
Kid-friendly through and through
To all those worried if the content is suitable for children, take it from the parents in the film’s cast that it definitely is!
For Crews, the whole film has a “Ricky’s sensibility,” and he has already watched the film with his granddaughter.
“Thought, this is the kind of movie we need right now,” he said. “Kids get a lot more than you give them credit for. They understand a lot more. They can handle a lot more than you think they can.”
According to Maya Rudolph, who plays the stick-wielding nanny to the 4 children said, “the comedy is a bit twisted and yet funny,” Rudolph told the Newbury Port News. “here is actual heart combined with the most extreme characters.”
The creators of the show have brought the children’s novel to life in vibrant and beautiful hues.
The animation is fulfilling to watch even if it paints a peppier picture for a rather grim plot. As any family dramedy, this too is bound to give you many deja vu moments from your own family reunions.
At a time when families are homebound, here is a beautiful film to watch together!
No Comments on Let The Mischief Run Free With Latest Netflix Kid-film The Willoughbys