ABOMINABLE

released 11 OctOber U | 97 minutes

Director Jill culton Cast chloe bennet, tenzing Norgay trainor, albert tsai, eddie Izzard

Following in the giant footprints of Smallfoot and Missing Link, Abominable’s arrival could give the idea that Yeti are in the midst of a pop culture moment. Let’s not jump the gun, though, because while DreamWorks’ latest animated offering has charm to spare, the story’s way too generic to feel like it’s at the vanguard of any cinematic movement.

That’s not to say Abominable lacks ambition. Yes, on one level the movie is a rehash of that clichéd old tale of a kid embarking on a dangerous adventure to take the lost creature (in this case a kidnapped Yeti) back to its family – and expanding her own horizons along the way. But there’s also admirable efforts made to counter any sense of over-familiarity; the film deals with challenging issues like bereavement, there’s a strong eco message, and the China setting is magnificent. Indeed, as it travels from a spectacular CG Shanghai to the epic Himalayas (via a succession of picture postcard locations), Abominable instantly stands out from more traditional Hollywood road trips.

Sadly, it’s also a tonal muddle. The cartoony villains and lost Yeti’s extreme cuteness jar with the more “real” teen leads, while an over-reliance on using the creature’s magical powers to save the day soon gets tired. This is one abominable snowman sighting that’s easily forgotten. Richard Edwards