#SHOWBIZ: A boy's magical friendship adventure
Welcome to 'Jumbo', Indonesia's most talked-about movie this year, and the region's best-selling animated movie to date.
The title character's name isn't Jumbo, but Don (voiced by Prince Poetiray), and Jumbo is a nickname given to him by Atta (Muhammad Adhiyat), his biggest tormentor in school and the neighbourhood.
Don is a chubby and awkward 10-year-old boy who loves fairy tales and one day meets a real fairy.
This fantasy directed by Ryan Adriandhy in his directorial debut comes to Malaysian cinemas three months after its Indonesian debut on March 31, and features popular singers Bunga Citra Lestari and Ariel Irham of Noah as the protagonist's late parents.
Don, who is often belittled by his schoolmates because of his large size and clumsiness, inherits a book from his parents, filled with illustrations and magical stories.
Entirely crafted by Don's parents who perished in an accident when he was 4, the book serves as an escape for Don in a world that feels unwelcoming due to the insults by his neighbours and schoolmates.
One day, Don decides to prove himself participating in a community talent show — he plans to perform a play inspired by the stories in the book.
Atta steals the book, but fortunately, Don has the support of his wise grandmother (who looks after him) and his best friends — goofy Nurman (Yusuf Ozkan) who lives with his goat-breeding grandfather, and Mae (Graciella Abigail) who is level-headed and street-smart.
Don soon meets Meri (Quinn Salman) a sweet fairy who asks for his help to find her parents.
They strike a deal — Meri decides to help Don improve his presentation and recover his book, while Don has to help Meri find her parents and defeat their captor.
Thus begins an adventure full of wonders, transforming Don's view of himself and teaching him the meaning of friendship, courage and self-confidence.
In terms of animation, 'Jumbo' is as good as Malaysia's 'Upin & Ipin', 'Boboiboy', 'Mechamato' and 'Ejen Ali', and here's hoping that the republic's animation industry continues to grow stronger.
Each character has superb and realistic facial expressions, movements and gestures, and the director based them on real life activities performed by the cast members.
And the movie's settings look very much like Jakarta's suburbia, only neater and more colourful.
Don may look adorable but honestly, he is rather annoying — he is selfish until he gets to know Atta after meeting his crippled elder brother Acil (Angga Yunanda), a hard-working electronic goods repair man.
The real heroes are his best friends, his grandmother (Ratna Riantiarno) and Meri, who teaches him to be brave, caring and sharing.
Getting to know Atta awakens him to his own flaws and the mutual reconciliation that follows finally makes him a hero.
The villain, Pak Rusli (Kiki Narendra), is two-dimensional as his motive for villainy is childish.
His late wife's grave was destroyed by a developer, and that turned him into a malevolent ghostbuster who destroys graves and captures ghosts including Meri's parents.
Flaws aside, 'Jumbo' is a timeless and heartwarming story for the whole family, which contains magic for the young and human values for the adults.
Viewers will realise that there is a bit of Don and Meri in everyone — he is the everyman who needs to break out of his comfort zone, and she is our higher self that loves, gives and grows.
'Jumbo' is a wholesome animated story that places strong emphasis on family, friendship and being independent, brave and selfless.
Malaysians ought not to miss it, and it is best that they bring their families along to the cinemas.
NOW SHOWING
JUMBO
DIRECTED BY Ryan Adriandhy
FEATURING THE VOICES OF Prince Poetiray, Quinn Salman, Yusuf Ozkan, Graciella Abigail, Muhammad Adhiyat, Ratna Riantiarno, Angga Yunada, Bunga Citra Lestari, Ariel Irham, Cinta Laura Kiehl, Ariyo Wahab, Kiki Narendra, Aci Resti and Rachel Amanda
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