After seeing the new DreamWorks animated film Turbo, I would give it 2 thumbs up, if snails had thumbs that is, which they don’t, and once you see the movie, you will get this joke. While it started a little slow (of course it did- they are snails, after all), the movie really picked up pace when the snails began interacting with the human characters. Much of the movie was set in the Van Nuys neighborhood of Los Angeles, and portrays the area’s diverse ethnic and cultural mix with a mixture of realism and kindness, although a bit of stereotyping as well. The voice cast for the animated characters was first rate, and included Ryan Reynolds, Paul Giamatti, Snoop Dogg, Michelle Rodriguez, and the unmistakable Samuel Jackson, among many others.
No big spoilers here. The story revolves around a snail, Theo (a.k.a. Turbo) who dreams of being fast, and his older brother, who keeps wanting Theo to live in the “real” world. The plot really takes off when through an accident, Theo gets his wish. Shortly after he discovers his new powers, Theo (Turbo) and his brother are captured by a young man and are entered into a snail race, where Theo finds himself truly in his element. The young man and his older brother, along with other residents in the community, hope to use the amazing snail to revitalize their neighborhood businesses. The movie does demonstrate the plight of the average small businessman to stand out in a world of corporate giants, and their struggles to survive in difficult times. Of course, one of our favorite scenes was where the snails were riding slot cars! I will leave the rest of the story out and let you all enjoy this wonderful family movie.
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