Unless I saw it after all and just didn't know it or forgot, I can claim no familiarity with the cartoon that this is based on. Being so far removed from a cartoon that aired 50 years ago, I also don't think that necessarily matters. Those behind the film were given the task of making these characters matter for folks who had never seen or weren't even aware of the preceding material, and possibly throwing in references for those who did. To sit and watch this 2018 movie - well, it's not that I think that primary objective was completely unmet, or that this wholly fails, but unfortunately it doesn't take long for it to start to make an impression as a very mixed bag, with distinct issues that limit the entertainment.
I find no fault with the animation. Ánima Estudios' designs are imaginative, and the otherwise work put in by Prime Focus World is smooth and on par with most any 3D fare one finds in modern TV cartoons, or films from studios outside the industry titans (Pixar, DreamWorks, Disney). I think the voice work in and of itself is just fine. Writer Jim Hecht penned a screenplay with some splendid ideas, and some notable cleverness, and Andrés Couturier's direction is technically competent. All this is well and good. The problem, however, is that when one looks closely at the details the ends to which all these facets were guided are rather unremarkable, if not altogether questionable in too many ways.
The editing is often noticeably curt, cutting off scene unnaturally. Broadly speaking the voice acting is fine, but the participants (stars Toby Kebbell, Lily Collins, and Ian McShane above all) have been guided into performances that mostly lack real, believable depth, personality, emotion, and nuance; it's as though we're generally getting only the most basic idea of what each character should sound like. This sadly echoes the tenor of 'A wizard's tale' overall, for the fantasy world of Groovingham is a hodgepodge of everything, but without any apparent rhyme or reason except "Just Because." Despite blips of cleverness or good ideas - e.g. The "mood darts" of the henchmen, the Oracle, or the broad strokes of the plot - the writing is kind of all over the place. There are too many ideas, and the feature may have benefited from having one or two dropped from the narrative or Groovingham at large; at the same time, the dialogue and scene writing are often weirdly simplified, as though this were geared toward the youngest of the youngest viewers. This isn't an inherently bad trait, yet I don't think Hecht's screenplay provides nearly enough balance with elements that older audience members could equally enjoy (such as fleeting use of the English-language version of Nena's 1983 hit "99 Luftballoons"). In the same vein, humor and "action" carries an ethos recalling the plainly outlandish gags or violence of, say, 'Looney Tunes' or 'Merrie Melodies.'
True, much of this is in keeping with the tack of 'Here comes the Grump' in the first place - the abject cartoonishness, the simple storytelling, the "anything goes" mentality of Groovingham. If nothing else I have to admire what seems like an effort to create a true full-length adaptation of an animated series that was brief but beloved, and even though I don't think the voice acting is all that it could have been, it's unquestionably superior to the straightforward work of the 1969 series. However, the fact remains that 2018 (or 2023, as it were) is not 1969; modern animated fare needs modern sensibilities, and a greater tinge of earnestness and complexity. The same pure, deliberate childishness that characterized the production of DePatie-Freleng Enterprises can't sell to any but the most innocent and unknowing of children now, yet glimmers of wit aside, that's just what we get in this title. As if to emphasize the point, major plot points to come are readily discerned and predicted by the time only about 16 minutes have passed, and themes tend to be broached with a heavy hand. The sequence in the Balloony Kingdom embraces utmost cartoonishness for its own sake, and the one to follow isn't much different. This is to say nothing of racial and cultural stereotypes that define multiple supporting characters, which is truly just mind-blowing.
With all this having been said, I can honestly say that I actually did enjoy 'A wizard's tale.' There's a lot to love about this, from the cast and the fundamental animation, to the brightest and best ideas that went into it. Despite outright goofiness, the sincerity of the intent is unmistakable, and I appreciate the effort put into this by all involved. Ah, but if only the project were approached more mindfully; the entertainment and otherwise value is evident, but the same is true of the flaws to at least the same extent. Changes to the supporting characters, more modern notions of humor and animated films, more aspects to appeal to older viewers, more finesse in the writing, editing, and direction of the voice work - to list them out this may seem like a lot, but I don't think it would have actually taken much to improve upon the movie as it presents. The foundation is there, and the rest of the production just needed little tweaks. Ultimately this is passably satisfying if one comes across it, and I am curious to watch more from Ánima Estudios, Prime Focus World, Hecht, Couturier, and all others on hand. Still, there are many other titles out there that are more readily deserving of one's time, and the recommendation 'A wizard's tale' earns is only a soft one. By all means, watch it if you have the chance, but don't feel the need to go out of your way, and temper your expectations.
