WONDER PARK
US, 2019, 85 minutes, Colour.
Brianna Denski, Jennifer Garner, Matthew Broderick, Norbert Leo Butz, Mila Kunis, John Oliver, Ken Jeong, Kenan Thomson, Ken Hudson Campbell.
Directed by David Feiss,
This is an animated film for little children, very small children, the age of the littlies who populate this film (with very few adults, mainly the parents of the heroine, June). That might serve as a warning for parents and, especially, grandparents who accompany their children – there is not much for them except to share the enjoyment of the children. The film was produced by the company, Nickelodeon.
It is all very colourful, literally, inviting the attention of the young audience. They are treated to all the delights of Wonder Park, which turns out to be the invention of June’s imagination, creating all kinds of attractions, and having the help of a range of animals in the park, most especially Peanut, the monkey, but also with the help of a large bear, a hedgehog and other mischievous animals. The opening sequences spent a lot of time at Wonder Park, certainly drawing in the youngsters.
Then, we are introduced to June at home with her parents. Her father is supportive (voiced by Matthew Broderick) and she is devoted to her mother who encourages her imagination, continually inventing new attractions for Wonder Park.
Then comes the mischief. June is an organiser and gets all her friends in the neighbourhood to make quite an elaborate version of the park and its attractions, making the equivalent of a rollercoaster from her backyard, round the neighbouring houses, up hills and down dales, but eventually losing control and finding herself in the middle of traffic. Initiative praised but discipline imposed!
Then there is a big transition when the mother (voiced by Jennifer Garner) is diagnosed as very ill and has to go away for treatment. June goes into depression, burns all her Wonder Park stuff – and is ordered by her father to go away to summer camp.
She feels that she needs to be with her father and arranges to get off the bus – but then starts to take initiative, recreating Wonder Park with all her friends, bigger than ever. But, this is a dream and she returns home – with, thank goodness, a happy ending so that the young audience goes off smiling when June’s mother happily returns home.
