Liza Soberano

Forgotten Island (2026): Memory Mayhem Ensues in This Beautifully Chaotic Animation

Posted on by Jack Drees

© Courtesy of Universal

“Forgotten Island” is written and directed by Joel Crawford and Januel P. Mercado, the same team behind “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.” This film stars H.E.R. (Yes Day, The Color Purple), Liza Soberano (My Ex and Whys, Lisa Frankenstein), Dave Franco (Together, Neighbors), Jenny Slate (Everything Everywhere All at Once, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On), Manny Jacinto (The Acolyte, The Good Place), Dolly de Leon (History of Ha, Verdict), Jo Koy (Easter Sunday, The Tiger’s Apprentice), Ronny Chieng (Crazy Rich Asians, The Daily Show), Kevin McCann (Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, Dog Man) and Lea Salonga (Mulan, Aladdin). This film is about a best friend duo who find themselves stranded on the island of Nakali. With time not on their side, they have to find a way back home, all the while keeping in mind they could lose the very memories they have built up over the years.

© DreamWorks Animation

I had high expectations for “Forgotten Island” going into it. While DreamWorks has its fair share of hits and misses, the studio can sometimes hit a bullseye with their efforts. One bullseye in particular came in 2022, with “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.” The film released the same day as 20th Century Studios’ “Avatar: The Way of Water.” While “Avatar” wound up making significantly more money, “Puss in Boots” was the much better movie. I had polar opposite experiences with both films. The bar was high for “Avatar: The Way of Water,” the latest film from directing legend James Cameron. For the record, the film failed that high bar. On the other hand, “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” made me go, “Are we really doing this?” After that fine-at-best 2011 cash grab?

Yes. Yes we were.

Part of what made “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” so great was the crystal clear, fast-paced, ludicrous, knockout of a vision from its directing team, Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado. These two were able to get not just good, but masterclass performances out of the film’s stacked voicecast in addition to unleashing some of the most mind-blowing sequences I have watched in an animated film. Not to mention, it was a clever story with all kinds of emotions. Naturally, I was excited for whatever the heck they did next.

© DreamWorks Animation

Let’s start off with the bad news. “Forgotten Island” is not as good as “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.” But I have a couple bits of good news. First off, the film is brilliant and you should see it. It does not matter how old you are. I showed “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” to my mom recently, who does not care for animated films, but she was entertained by it and I am sure even she would be delighted by this latest movie. Second, “Forgotten Island” is more than likely going to get a lot of replay value from me. One of my slight peeves about this movie is that everything moves so fast that it is almost hard to keep up. But that is also what makes the experience of watching this fun. If I were watching this at 7 years old, I would be watching this over and over again for entertainment value, much to the possible annoyance of my parents. But as I potentially give my parents a headache from watching this film incessantly, part of me thinks that I will pick up something new with nearly each viewing. Much like “The Last Wish,” this film is so fast-paced to the point where I may have missed a joke or two. Possibly ten. There is a lot to digest, but it is not like I had to take everything in during the first sitting. The dialogue is snappy, the action is rambunctious, the characters are loud, and the animation is flashy.

The movie gets the most out of its voice cast. Yes, it is in certain ways, star-studded, which can be a question mark for me. Even if I like the stars, I hope that they can deliver something that goes beyond what they would give in a live-action performance. Thankfully, that is the case. Dave Franco as Raww is a standout in this particular regard. He comes off like an upbeat dad trying to motivate their children at any given moment.

I love how much DreamWorks is playing around with different animation styles. I am not going to pretend the variety always leads to perfection, but between “The Bad Guys,” “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,” “Dog Man,” and now this movie, I admire the range on display. I am glad to say the animation style in “Forgotten Island” is spectacular. The film puts a lot of emphasis on blue and pink. Those are the colors of the best friends’ bracelets, plus there are quite a few blue and pink creatures our heroes run into along the way. Some standouts include Bungi (Jacinto), a baby demon, as well as King Truffle Wuffle (Chieng), whose army may be cute, but will not come off as cuddly should you acknowledge their adorableness to their face.

“Forgotten Island” is a fantastic story about friendship, especially considering how beautifully it showcases the connection between Jo and Raissa. Not all of DreamWorks’ films have aged well for me. I recently rewatched “Madagascar” during a rerelease. Despite how many times I watched it as a kid, I found myself questioning core aspects of the film that never crossed my mind when I was 7 years old. The biggest question on my mind is how the heck Alex and Marty were even friends. I did not feel any chemistry between them. That is not the case with Jo and Raissa. If I watched this movie at 7 years old, chances are I would enjoy watching these two on screen as friends, but the film does a great job at showcasing the two’s complications that have come as a result of being friends. It shows that their relationship, no matter how much they root for each other, is not perfect. They have some occasional patches that they either ignore or work through. There are times where one person is taking their life in a direction that does not match the other, thus affecting their bond. Maybe I would not pick up those complications at the age of 7, but give it a decade or two, I might.

This film serves as a solid reminder of what it means to be sentimental. Getting to live life each and every day is a blessing, and one of the amazing things about being human is being able to recognize that we can do, possess, or witness things that we will cherish for the rest of our lives. “Forgotten Island” is an incredible encapsulation of what it means to be human. After seeing this and “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,” the directing team behind both movies should be allowed as much creative control as one can possibly give them. Please go watch this movie.

© DreamWorks Animation

In the end, “Forgotten Island” is gorgeous, funny, and chaotic. This is a fantastic film for families. It is another win for DreamWorks, in addition to two of their best minds. I am not Filipino, but culturally speaking, I can see this film becoming significant for people who are of that descent. Even with my missed connection, I found myself hooked by this movie. It is a rollercoaster ride that throws so much at you that it is almost impossible to take everything in. But that is not a bad thing, because I look forward to potentially taking those things in during future viewings, partially because this first viewing left me massively entertained. I remember my review for another DreamWorks film, “Dog Man,” and I had similar things to say about it in terms of the pace and presentation, but the material presented in that pace did not hit me in the way that “Forgotten Island” did. “Dog Man” is probably not going to have any replay value, but the same cannot be said for “Forgotten Island.” I am going to give “Forgotten Island” an 8/10.

“Forgotten Island” is now playing in theaters. Tickets are available now.

Thanks for reading this review! If you like this review, I have another one coming soon in video form. Be sure to look forward to the upcoming episode of Scene Before’s original series, Movie Requests, featuring comedian Joe Gatto! He will suggest a film for me to watch, and it will be my job to report my thoughts on said movie! The episode will be available to watch Tuesday October 13th! The video will be available to watch here on Flicknerd.com, but if you want to know the fastest way to watch it, subscribe to my YouTube channel and hit the notification bell!

Also, be sure to check out the previous episode of Movie Requests, which features “Ahsoka” star Rosario Dawson! She asked me to review the Ridley Scott movie “Legend.” Watch the video to see what I thought about it!

My next review is going to be for “Primetime.” Stay tuned! Also coming soon, I will be sharing my thoughts on “The Weight” and “Digger.” If you want to see these reviews and more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, did you see “Forgotten Island?” What did you think about it? Or, since we are on the topic, have you seen “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish?” Isn’t it awesome? You know it is. Tell me how awesome you think it is down below. Scene Before is your click to the flicks!

Lisa Frankenstein (2024): Kathryn Newton Shines in a Forgettable John Hughes-Esque Coming of Age Story with an Edge

Posted on by Jack Drees

“Lisa Frankenstein” is directed by Zelda Williams and this is her feature-length debut. The film stars Kathryn Newton (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Blockers), Cole Sprouse (Five Feet Apart, Riverdale), Liza Soberano (Trese, Make It with You), Henry Eikenberry (Euphoria, The Crowded Room), Joe Chrest (Stranger Things, 21 Jump Street), and Carla Gugino (Night at the Museum, Spy Kids). This film is a coming of age story showing the love connection between a young girl and a corpse who returns from the dead.

When it comes to the February 2024 cinematic lineup, “Lisa Frankenstein” is one of those films that had my attention from the moment I heard about it. While it did not look like the next big thing, the marketing showcased plenty to savor. For starters, the idea is kind of clever. I like the concept on the surface. The vibe the film seems to be going for definitely screamed kooky, but with a pinch of romance. This film was set to release the week before Valentine’s day making it an appropriate watch for such a time.

You also have a writer like Diablo Cody behind the scenes, who has not only written films I have enjoyed in the past like “Tully” and “Juno,” but she also has horror experience with “Jennifer’s Body.” I have only seen a bit of the film, but I didn’t dislike what I saw. I think it would be unfair of me to give a score on “Jennifer’s Body” without having seen the whole thing. That said, I recognize it is not Shakespeare.

This film is also the directorial debut of Zelda Williams, a name that I knew for years thanks to the Internet. But for those who do not know who Zelda Williams is, she is Robin Williams’s daughter. Yes, that one. I am not always the biggest supporter of nepotism, and I say that knowing that the film industry is sometimes notorious for it. But I was curious to see if Williams had a knack for this kind of work. While doing research for this review, I found out Williams has a history of making music videos, so she is not new to this industry. And having seen “Lisa Frankenstein,” that makes complete sense. Everything in this film is nicely framed and looks like something from another world. The lighting throughout the film comes in quite a variety. It’s also easy on the eyes. The color grading has this weird pixelated-like gloss to it that I found rather appealing. When it comes to this film’s aesthetic, it is a job well done. At times it felt intimate. At others it felt roomy. At others it feels downright fantastical. I am not sure if this is a proper tech demo movie for say a big screen TV, but maybe it will be serviceable for a 32 inch model.

Unfortunately though, the movie is almost all looks, with little personality. The script has a couple decent lines, but the vibe delivered between said lines feels inconsistent. I understand that this is a movie that blends the reality of the 1980s with the fantasy of a man coming back to life. But it is not enough to make a decent package. If anything, this film feels more like a mish mash than a proper horror comedy at times. It doesn’t really know what it wants to be. Now I say that knowing that we have gotten a decent number of movies over the years that combine genres. “Everything Everywhere All at Once” is a proper example. But I also recognize that I would probably not have this complaint if there were anything that would make those genre increments stand out. Sure, this movie has a bit of a throwback feel to 1980s John Hughes coming of age movies like “Weird Science” or “Pretty in Pink,” but it is not as good as those. If I watch “Lisa Frankenstein” again, there is less of a chance that I would finish the film and say “That was fun, another round,” compared to me going “You know what’s a good watch right now? A John Hughes movie.”

Kathryn Newton does an excellent job playing a somewhat twisted, but also kind of innocent lead role. There are a lot of layers to unpack with this character as the movie goes along and while I am not sure what roles Newton will take following this picture, this film goes to showcase her range. She can be dark, she can be down to earth, she can be otherworldly. She can do it all. Going back to the film’s aesthetic, Newton’s hair and makeup are on point. I have no idea if “Lisa Frankenstein” is even going to be considered for any makeup awards during next year’s awards season, it is still too early to tell, but I would say in regards to 2024 cinema, “Lisa Frankenstein” is this year’s first notable contender in that category.

The rest of the cast all do a decent job with their roles. Cole Sprouse proves silence is golden with his portrayal of The Creature. Liza Soberano gives a fine showcase of her talent as Taffy. But aside from Newton’s layered protagonist, I think the character that stood out to me the most in the movie is Carla Gugino as Lisa’s stepmother, Janet.

For some young people, it is hard enough to adapt to a new parent or guardian. “Lisa Frankenstein” presents a reality for our protagonist that makes it come off as near impossible for her to adapt to her stepmother. The movie presents a rivalry between these two that is probably more riveting than it needs to be. And a lot of it is in the performances between these two. Of course, the shenanigans our protagonist gets into plays a significant role as well, but nevertheless.

Once again, this film is directed by Zelda Williams, and despite my negative comments for this film, I am not going to tell her to give up on filmmaking. I think she does a fine job with this movie in terms of bringing various sets and talent to life. Some frames from this picture still linger in my mind because of how stylish they come off. But when it comes to characterization and writing, that is where the movie needs work. It has a great concept but it just doesn’t stick the landing. But I also cannot entirely blame her, because she did not write the film. That job belongs to Diablo Cody, who I like as a writer, but this is not her best work.

In the end, “Lisa Frankenstein” has good intentions, but comes off with lackluster execution. Despite some inklings of quality, I will not deny that this movie could have been better. As a horror movie, it is not that eerie or terrifying. As a comedy, it does not have many laughs. When you take these ideas together, the movie kind of falters in both genres. There are good things about it, yes, but those good things do not justify a rewatch. Those good things barely stand out. That is if they do at all. Kathryn Newton’s great. Sure. Carlo Gugino is terrific. Sure. The design across the board almost couldn’t be better. Double sure. But I also think that if you are at the movies right now, there are better options for your choosing. “Lisa Frankenstein” is not offensively bad. But it could be better. How better? Well, judging by my score I think “Lisa Frankenstein” could be better than a 5/10.

“Lisa Frankenstein” is now playing in theaters and is available to rent or buy on VOD.

Thanks for reading this review! My next review is going to be a fun one. It is for the most anticipated film in the history of the world, “Madame Web!” Boy oh boy! I am sure everyone is expecting Scene Before’s first EVER 11/10 score on this one… We shall see. Speaking of film reviews, pretty soon I will be dropping my thoughts on “Drive-Away Dolls,” “Bob Marley: One Love,” and “Dune Part Two.” Stay tuned! If you want to see these reviews and more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, did you see “Lisa Frankenstein?” What did you think about it? Or, what is your favorite Diablo Cody script? Let me know down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!