Forgotten Island

by Mike McGranaghan

When I first saw the trailer for DreamWorks Animation’s Forgotten Island, I couldn’t understand what the movie was about. Subsequent viewings were no help. The movie has a lot going on, which makes it difficult to encapsulate in a two-and-a-half-minute preview. Or in a review, for that matter. Watch the entire film and you get a sweet, if overstuffed story about friendship, but also about the power of the memories we make with our friends.

The setting is the Philippines during the 1990s. Besties Jo (musician H.E.R.) and Raissa (Liza Soberano) have the kind of relationship where they get rambunctious when they’re together. The girls have long been fascinated with Nakali, a mystical island whose tale has been passed down through lore. They find the magic sand dollar that serves as a portal to Nakali and decide to visit. Serving as their tour guide is Raww (Dave Franco), a creature who can switch between being a man and a dog.

The girls also encounter Batiba (Jenny Slate), a “memory demon” who can send them back, provided they give her the friendship bracelets they’ve been adding to for years. They obviously don’t want to do that, so the only other option is finding the now-missing sand dollar in order to get back home. I’m leaving a lot of stuff out. I told you it was complicated.

Forgotten Island is, like its central duo, a very hyperactive movie. It’s constantly making weird little asides and bouncing from one thing to the next. In that sense, it’s reminiscent of another DreamWorks picture, 2025’s Dog Man. Jokes come flying at you, new narrative elements are continually introduced, and a host of ‘90s era pop songs flood the soundtrack. That manic quality takes some getting used to, although the plot does focus itself more during the second half.

Co-directors Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado (Puss in Boots: The Last Wish) hold everything together through several means. Most significantly, there’s the bright and bold animation. Nakali is beautifully rendered, allowing it to feel as magical as it’s supposed to be. The visual style is backed up by a vibrant sense of humor. Big laughs are all over the place in the movie, with Franco earning many of the biggest. Raww is definitely going to become a classic DreamWorks character. Telling the story through the prism of Pilipino culture offers a pleasing sense of freshness.

The kicker, however, is the friendship between Jo and Raissa. Particularly during the last act, the film zooms in on the bond between them. Once it’s in peril, they – and we – realize how life-changing knowing each other has been. This leads to a touching finale reminiscent of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. If you’ve ever had a friend with whom you’ve connected in an indefinably powerful way, the ending will hit you like a ton of bricks.

Very young children may be overstimulated by the manic tone, especially given the 109-minute length. Slightly older children and adults will be swept away by the mixture of eye-popping visuals, wacky comedy, and tender portrait of companionship.