‘Luca’ offers enjoyable Italian getaway

Pixar’s ‘Luca’ offers an enjoyable Italian getaway via Disney+

Arriving just before the first official day of summer, “Luca” embodies the spirit of the season. ¶ The latest from Pixar Animation Studios — a Disney affiliate and generally a creative powerhouse — is a fairly light, breezy and largely entertaining coming-of-age affair set in and around a lovely seaside town on the Italian Riviera in the late 1950s or early ‘60s. ¶ Ironically, Disney decided to release it on its streaming platform Disney+ — sans an extra fee, just as it did with Pixar’s previous effort, “Soul” — so maybe save this one for a rainy day spent at home.

Less ambitious than last year’s high-concept “Soul,” “Luca” nonetheless is the slightly stronger film. (We will acknowledge, however, that “Soul” won for Best Animated Film at the 93rd Academy Awards this year and that “Luca” is unlikely to take home that Oscar next year.)

It is the story of a 13-year-old sea monster named Luca Paguro (voiced by Jacob Tremblay), who is shy, polite, introverted and a rule-follower. He knows little about humans, and his protective parents, Daniela (Maya Rudolph) and Lorenzo (Jim Gaffigan), have worked to make him afraid of “land monsters.”

The discovery of an alarm clock on the seafloor leads Luca to another young monster, Alberto Scorfano (Jack Dylan Grazer), who likes to spook fishermen and relieve them of some of the possessions they bring on their boats.

Luca follows Alberto to the surface and experiences the magical change that turns sea monsters into humans. As long as they stay dry, these creatures from the deep look no different from anyone else breathing air instead of water.

Alberto, Luca discovers, is many things he is not — outgoing, bold and brave, for starters — and the two become fast friends.

Alberto’s island hideout is home to many human artifacts, including the gramophone — aka the “magic singing-lady machine” — we see him score in the film’s opening moments, as well as a poster of a Vespa scooter.

PIXAR ANIMATION STUDIOS Luca (voiced by Jacob Tremblay), left, and Alberto (Jack Dylan Grazer) become fast friends in “Luca.”