Charming moments from Dora
IN the first ever feature film for popular children’s edutainment television series Dora The Explorer, there’s a scene where the villain complains about the relentless positivity of the titular heroine as well as her incessant good natured self in the face of adversity and danger.
That irritating trait is actually what makes this new Dora And The Lost City Of Gold work, as teen actress Isabela Moner plays Dora with infectious wide-eyed innocence and purity. Upbeat and energetic, there’s not a mean bone in her as she takes on the various challenges onscreen in her big adventure which also features themes like just being and believing in yourself in addition to building friendships.
This live-action version of the beloved Nickelodeon little heroine sees Dora as a curious 15-year-old teenager. It starts off in the deep Peruvian jungle where her academic parents who are also archaeologists of sorts are conducting research on the ancient Incan city of Parapata.
Growing up in the jungle environment, the 7-year-old Dora is close to nature and goes on her own imaginative adventures with her cousin Diego and other makebelieve characters. When Diego has to move back to Los Angeles with his family Dora continues to develop her love for nature in the jungle until it’s time for her to go to high school back in the big city.
This is where the movie starts to become a teen flick with the fish-out-ofwater Dora trying to balance being her upbeat self with fitting in and negotiating through the treacherous routes of high school life. She lives with her grandmother in Diego’s family home and things take a new twist when she goes on a school excursion to a museum of natural history.
Dora along with Diego and two friends, the nerdy Randy and brainy frenemy Sammy, are kidnapped by mercenaries and end up in Peru. They are rescued by family friend Alejandro over there who explains to Dora that her parents Cole and Elena have been taken by a villainous explorer who wants the mythical gold from the ancient city of Parapata.
By now the movie shifts gears and becomes an Indiana Jones-like romp through the jungle as the kids go on an exciting adventure filled with various challenges in order to rescue Dora’s parents. But unlike hunky archaeologist Indiana Jones who believes that all artefacts belong in a museum, Dora makes it crystal clear that they are merely explorers who are curious to find out and understand the world around them.
The movie is certainly safe for children, and families will enjoy the wide-ranging jokes. It’s a fun and adventurous movie with lots of references to the popular television series.
Moner who plays Dora with bright-eye enthusiasm is the best thing about this big screen adventure.
There are some way-out-there moments and director James Bobin makes sure that the movie doesn’t take itself too seriously with some meta scenes and fourth wall-breaking routines.
The cast, especially Moner, gives decent performances that carry the movie’s brisk and simple storyline. Don’t expect Pixar-level quality here but the movie does have its charming moments here and there as it switches between reality and fantasy as well as a shift in different tones.
It has singing, dancing and one selfreferential wink at the audience that cracked me up big time. It’s not the best movie out there but it’s got a winning lead and positive messages that parents can rally behind.