Film Preview: Wendell & Wild (2022)

Film Poster

Page Revisions:

(September 11, 2022) Original
(October 16, 2022) New Trailer (#2) — New Poster (#2)

Release Date:

October 28, 2022

Synopsis:

From IMDb: “Two scheming demon brothers, Wendell and Wild, must face their arch-nemesis, the demon-dusting nun Sister Helly, and her two acolytes, the goth teens Kat and Raul. However, Raul cannot see them so Kat helps Wendell and Wild to help him.”

Poster Rating: C+ / B-

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Review: (#1) The effort employed to make this feel as dull-witted as possible doesn’t go unnoticed. While you do get an understanding of the medium and indistinctly the narrative, it all feels a bit rushed.

(#2) We get more details than the first design, but they aren’t well balanced, tilting to the left to make things feel off kilter, without saying enough about the film itself.

Trailer Rating: B / B-

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Review: (#1) The visuals are stunning and that’s to be expected from Henry Selick. The distinction comes with the narrative presented, which is slipshod and uninteresting. That dichotomy battles in the viewer’s mind to such a degree that someone might be equally interested and suspicious.

(#2) Getting more details about a film is always a good thing, but the trailer’s so clunkily constructed that the audience isn’t really drawn into the narrative in an appreciable way.

Oscar Prospects:

The first thing a Best Animated Feature contender has to do is eliminate the Disney entries. While the film is sure to be Oscar nominated, it will mostly compete against the Disney and Pixar efforts. Lightyear was a dud and Turning Red‘s eligibility is in question due to its streaming release. Strange World is their last 2022 release and it is directed by Don Hall. So, if that film flops with critics, i think this one can win the Oscar. If not, then all bets are off.