Synopsis
A gorilla named Ivan who’s living in a suburban shopping mall tries to piece together his past, with the help of other animals, as they hatch a plan to escape from captivity.
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Cast
- Bryan CranstonMack
- Sam RockwellIvan (voice)
- Angelina JolieStella (voice)
- Danny DeVitoBob (voice)
- Helen MirrenSnickers (voice)
- Brooklynn PrinceRuby (voice)
- Ramón RodríguezGeorge
- Ariana GreenblattJulia
- Chaka KhanHenrietta (voice)
- Ron FunchesMurphy (voice)
Recommendations
- 75
Entertainment Weekly
Watching Ivan discover his love of art is intoxicating, too, particularly when his realization that he can use it to communicate results in a truly breathtaking tableau. The film’s genuine bursts of emotion, combined with the wry warmth of the vocal performances and the deftly realistic rendering of the CGI animals, give the project a silverback gorilla-sized heaping of heart. - 75
IndieWire
It builds to a conclusion that, like the best parts of this film, combines movie-magic whimsy with hard-won realism, slipping some very grown-up ideas (and ideals) into a classic talking-animal charmer. - 70
The Hollywood Reporter
Jolie, who also serves as producer along with Brigham Taylor and the late Allison Shearmur, invests her fragile pachyderm with a gentle, world-weary wisdom, while Cranston makes you feel his world crumbling beneath him in a performance that could have easily flirted with cartoon villainy in less accomplished hands. - 63
The Associated Press
The real story of Ivan is more interesting even if it’s probably too dispiriting and shameful for a Disney movie. At the same time there’s some awkwardness in relating such an animal-rights tale with fart jokes and a celebrity voice ensemble. - 50
Slant Magazine
The charitable representation of Bryan Cranston’s character greatly diminishes the emotional resonance of the film’s dramatic turns in the final act. - 50
Movie Nation
Rendered toothless, with barely a hint of menace or humor, much less jokes or sight gags, “Ivan” plays as downbeat and dispirited. - 50
USA Today
It’s cute and heartfelt at times, though the adventure by director Thea Sharrock (“Me Before You”) can’t decide between being a fun-filled romp or an animal-rights drama. - 50
Consequence
The One and Only Ivan always “feels” like a movie without actually being compelling enough to be truly entertaining.
