Dumbo

My grandmother has instilled in me many things. Among them are wanderlust, a knack for arts and crafts, and a love of all things Disney. I was actually surprised to learn she’d never been to Disney’s El Capitan Theater and I was even more excited to remedy that problem with the release of Tim Burton’s reimagining  of Dumbo. So we purchased our tickets and to the El Capitan we went... 

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times- there’s no other place to see a Disney (or Marvel) movie. They add a bit of Disney magic to every show. For Dumbo, the lobby was decorated in a big top motif, with jugglers and acrobats on hand to entertain before the scheduled showtime. And what a show did they put on. They definitely got the crowd hyped before the curtain was raised! 

Now, I’m always slightly worried when classics are remade. I’ve been disappointed many times when beloved films are modernized simply for the sake of pandering to a younger generation. So, I went into the theater reminding myself this would not be the Dumbo I grew up with and hoped for the best...

All of my anxieties were quickly alleviated. Tim Burton’s Dumbo is endearing as ever, with an amazing cast well-equipped to tell the timeless tale. Colin Ferrell charms as a newly single father home from war, trying to do right by his children. Danny DeVito brings  the comic relief as the ringmaster striving to keep the Medici Bros circus afloat in changing times. And Nico Parker shines as the film’s heroine, encouraging Dumbo to discover and use his gift. 

Dumbo reminds us that our differences make us special and that, sometimes, belief in ourselves is all the magic we need to do great things.