Abominable is the story of Yi (voiced by Chloe Bennet), a teenage girl struggling to balance her family and an ambition to take the trip she always promised herself that she would embark upon. When Yi has a chance encounter with a young yeti, she and her friends resolve to reunite the creature with its family in the Himalayan Mountains. However, interest in the yeti extends to others and they soon find themselves being pursued by individuals with far more nefarious intentions.
What works in Abominable are the crisp and lusciously animated landscapes, supported by a story that successfully checks off the prerequisite boxes needed for an entertaining family film: accessible humor, interesting characters, and some nice messages. Without question the star of Abominable is China. As the team traverses away from the city, they find a world of natural beauty and wonder, and visual recreations of these environments are marvelous. The colors simply dance, and it’s delightful to behold.
RELATED: Abominable: How They Were Able To Create Such An Authentic City Based On Shanghai
Writer/director Jill Culton (Open Season), along with co-director Todd Wilderman (Almost Home), take a bit of a formulaic approach to Abominable, but under the “don’t fix it if it ain’t broke” philosophy. The narrative of a person finding an animal/creature, being afraid of it, then seeing them as a reflection, and going on an adventure that leads to self-discovery isn’t novel, but the creative team here proves that it still works. There are gags aplenty, ridiculous caricatures, and some really touching points about being grateful for family, how to cope with loss, and even some lessons on the treatment of animals and nature. Families should note there’s plenty to go around for patrons of all ages.
Parents should be aware that some little children may find Abominable scary, especially in the first act when the yeti is first introduced as mysterious and seemingly ferocious. There is also some borderline sexist material that crops up every now and again, but nothing particularly overt. Finally, (and this may go without saying), that Abominable is fairly absurdist when it comes to things like science. Even for a movie that has a yeti at its center, there’s quite a lot that just makes absolute zero sense.
Abominable is great family fun. Its very familiar story will likely preclude it from winning any awards or being particularly memorable, but its warmth and beauty make it an excellent option for both kids and adults seeking smiles.
Recommended if you enjoyed: Kubo And The Two Strings, How To Train Your Dragon 3
FINAL GRADE: B+
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