Wes Anderson is a director renowned for his distinctive style and often quirky cinematic experiences. As a fan of much of his work, including The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Royal Tenenbaums, and The Life Aquatic, I was eager to see his second animated feature, Isle of Dogs, following 2009’s Fantastic Mr. Fox.
The boy Atari with his five newfound friends.In the Japanese city of Megasaki, Mayor Kobayashi (Kunichi Nomura) decrees the banishment of all dogs to a remote island due to a widespread outbreak of “dog flu,” which renders them aggressive and a perceived threat to public safety. On this island, five dogs from diverse backgrounds—Chief (Bryan Cranston), Rex (Edward Norton), King (Bob Balaban), Duke (Jeff Goldblum), and Boss (Bill Murray)—find themselves united. Their isolated existence is disrupted when a young boy, Atari (Koyu Rankin), crash-lands on the island, determined to locate his lost canine companion. This event sets the stage for an unforeseen adventure for the newfound pack.
Chief gets pampered.As mentioned previously, the plot is arguably the weakest element of Isle of Dogs. Anderson’s films often feature unconventional narratives, keeping the audience guessing. However, in this instance, the storyline’s trajectory becomes predictable early on. While the film maintains Anderson’s signature witty dialogue and humor in many scenes, a certain narrative depth feels lacking. A significant disappointment arises near the film’s third act. Without revealing specific spoilers, I will say that the fictionalized Japanese setting, while well-executed, ultimately left me wanting more. Furthermore, the relative scarcity of developed female characters feels notably underwhelming. Scarlett Johansson voices Nutmeg, a beautiful dog who unfortunately contributes little beyond fulfilling a stereotypical unattainable love interest role. Similarly, the human female characters, with the possible exception of exchange student Tracy Walker (Greta Gerwig), don’t significantly enrich the overall narrative.
What are the strengths of the film? There are several. The initial portion of the movie, before the aforementioned issues surface, showcases classic Wes Anderson hallmarks: wit, humor, and appealingly eccentric sensibilities. The stop-motion animation is exceptionally well-crafted, employing meticulously constructed physical sets and puppets. A behind-the-scenes documentary reveals the impressive dedication and artistry involved in the film’s production. The voice acting is superb. Anderson has assembled a cast of frequent collaborators, including Bill Murray, Edward Norton, and Jeff Goldblum. Bryan Cranston delivers a particularly strong performance as Chief, and the Japanese voice actors are equally commendable. Frances McDormand and Yoko Ono also make brief appearances.
In conclusion, Isle of Dogs possesses numerous positive attributes that warrant a recommendation. However, a more developed plot and a less reliant approach on technical craftsmanship (despite its high quality) could have elevated this film to a potential masterpiece within Wes Anderson’s filmography.
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