DORA AND THE LOST CITY OF GOLD (PG)
★★★ ★★
EDUCATIONAL cartoon series Dora The Explorer, which teaches preschoolers basic Spanish through repetition, is reimagined as a rollicking live-action adventure a la Raiders Of The Lost Ark. Funny, charming, puerile and knowing, Dora And The Lost City Of Gold is a hugely entertaining romp that caters to all ages, including little ones familiar with the TV version and its irrepressible heroine. Isabela Moner brings a winning combination of bright-eyed optimism and steely resolve to her incarnation of the title character.
Dora (Moner) is raised in the jungle by archaeologist parents Cole (Michael Pena) and Elena (Eva Longoria). They are poised to embark on a perilous expedition to locate the lost Peruvian civilisation of Parapata, which ancient texts describe as the hiding place of more gold than the rest of the world combined. Dora hopes to join her folks but Elena calmly counsels her daughter: “You have the whole world to explore. Go see it, make friends.” Consequently, Dora flies to Los Angeles to stay with her cousin Diego (Jeff Wahlberg). Soon after, Cole and Elena vanish without trace and Dora becomes the unwitting heroine of her own harebrained adventure, accompanied by Diego and misfit classmates Sammy (Madeleine Madden) and Randy (Nicholas Coombe). Dora And The Lost City Of Gold is full of hidden treasures, including tonguein-cheek performances, gently simmering romance and toilet humour.