Merolliv
I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.
Kirandeep Yoder
The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.
Wyatt
There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.
Jenni Devyn
Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.
scottshak_111
Surprisingly a good movie! I would be honest with you. From the trailers, I didn't expect much from Ferdinand Movie. But I was wonderstruck when I actually saw it. Watching it become a powerhouse of emotions as the movie progressed, I knew I had been dead wrong. That a movie should not be judged by its trailer, just as no book should be judged by its cover.
Ferdinand movie didn't pack in as many jests as you find in animated movies nowadays, but it was a great entertainer nevertheless. It was successful in walking a tightrope of emotions. That's where its true strength lurked. When you focus on other parts critically you realize there were tons of issues strewn around the movie as well. But all of that can be overlooked once you become the bull the movie cashes in on, and try to empathize with that creature who doesn't share his dream based on his appearance, rather stands by his decision to see what others fail to.
Story and Characters
Not everyone is same. We have been wired differently. Whilst a father wishes to be something, his son might not share his dream. He might have a dream of his own. Everyone has a choice. That very fact forms the basis of Ferdinand movie.
You can't decide or judge someone by their size or appearance. What you can't see, their brain, in fact, holds the key to their vision.
Place that impactful storyline into animation and you have got an enjoyable hoot to savour. That's what Ferdinand does with its bull, the protagonist voiced by John Cena. He is an out of place animal who doesn't share other's dreams.
Bullfighting in Ferdinand Movie
Either you are a fighter, or you are meat.
What you might call as someone's dream is a brilliant mockery of materialism. In the movie, the dream of fellow bulls is to fight the matador. Whilst the bulls in the flick fail to see the pointlessness of it, (like all the people who consider bullfighting a sport) Ferdinand in his blatant sense of indifference towards the game, digs up the real truth behind it. They are all ending up getting slaughtered! Just as we had seen in Sausage Party, the blind followers are all prepping up to die.
Sure, you get to fight in a magnificent stage, but it's just another chop shop!
Ferdinand movie uncovers the ugliness that surrounds the sport in a way that will leave you teary-eyed.
Ferdinand is all about saving the meek, helping others. He is finding it hard to explain it to others why he is the way he is. Doesn't that chime in with life? I don't know, like your very own? How many times have you felt that way? As if you are in someone's else body, forced to live someone else's dream. Are you fighting for it?
It's good to see someone is. Ferdinand is willing to leave no stones unturned to make the world understand he is not like the others. He is different. Violence his not his place even though he has been bedecked with a body that leaves the onlookers marveling.
Look at your pecs! They are like two tiny bulls inside a bull.
But the world, being the world, judges Ferdinand by the way he looks and brands him as destructive.
A Glance at Life
Ferdinand is given a shot at identifying his life the way he wishes to live it. He finds it in a place right next to Nina voiced by Lily Day. That's where he wishes to be - In a patch of land where a bull is chosen over a dog, Nina teaches Ferd the Nerd what love is all about.
Is this love? I love love.
It's that taste of life that helps the bull in registering home - not where you are born but where you are supposed to be.
Deprived of the life he desires to lead, Ferdinand is picked up and dropped at Ground zero once again. He ends up in Casa del Toro, the place that he had escaped from, to be prepped up for bullfighting, something he is not cut out for. Unable to understand what the fuss is all about Ferd tries to escape a bull's fate, but ends up drawing himself closer to the inescapable sport. Lupe voiced by Kate McKinnon is one of those weird funny characters, who brings in most of the punches and stays close by.
El Primero (Miguel Angel Silvestre) is in search of a bull to fight his final fight. Marking Ferdinand as a perfect contender he awaits him in the center of all applause.
Even though the main villain brings that heightened sense of befitting contrast to Ferdinand's character, you realize it is a typical cliched build-up that you have often seen in countless movies in the past. El Primero might have reminded you of Anton Ego from Ratatouille if only he had better words to say. The screenplay of the flick, unfortunately, isn't impressive and hence framing him as a villain to remember is something you might want to reconsider.
The Final Showdown
What tears you apart is the final face-off that puts the bull against El Primero. While there's an imminent death written in the frames, the demeanor of the bull is enough to shatter you into pieces. The multitude is busy cheering the one with the sword, but they easily forget that the one fighting without is a true champion
bryanyblood
When I first heard about this movie, my expectations were incredibly low. Despite the main character being voiced by John Cena (which did seem promising), I still wasn't too interested in giving it a look. But eventually I was recommended this movie by a friend, with his review being scathingly negative; Which was when my attention was instantly caught. And after watching Ferdinand,... This might be one of the strangest movies I have seen in a very long time. And I absolutely loved it!! There is so much wrong with this movie, it completely baffles me! Ferdinand starts off slow and boring at first, and nothing out of the ordinary occurs throughout the first half of the film. I noticed one or two quotes recycled from 'Rio' that managed to slip in; which gave me the impression that the rest of this movie is going to turn out very generic, mediocre, and yes, there are plenty of overused cliches in the movie as usual with all kids films. But once you get to the second half, things take a humungous turn for the worst. I have never seen any movie pull something off like this. As you continue, be sure to expect the following: Dabbing horses, twerking bulls, abysmal character designs, obnoxious off-the-wall cartoony animation, laughable voice acting, lots of filler, a terrible soundtrack, and tons and tons of memes and pop-culture references. I was left cringing down to my internal organs. I kept asking myself "WHY?". Sometimes, it's hard to watch. I don't feel like this film was trying to pander to millennials as much as it was trying to annoying the hell out of them. The movie does indeed have a story, but it quickly becomes overshadowed by the shenanigans of the bulls and other side characters. What's most fascinating is how sometimes it becomes difficult to predict what happens next. You hardly ever know what trick this movie will pull off. And some jokes will fly over your head until you realize "Did that seriously just happen?!". There are other chaotic chasing scenes as well, which leave you stuck to your seat. But out of everything, what left me dumbfounded the most, was the ending; and how heartwarming and pleasing it actually was, compared to the rest of running time. The final act of the movie feels quite different from everything else I just witnessed. But either way, It ends on a very nice note. And it helps calm down the overall tone and takes your mind off the ridiculous excitement Ferdinand was delivering. All of what I have covered and more should be what you should expect when diving into this movie; As it was all expertly mixed together to create one of the funnest experiences you could ever have while watching a movie. I did enjoy Ferdinand very much, but I feel like it would've been an even better experience if I had other friends with me viewing it for the first time. Make no mistake; It is a lowbrow wild ride. And it does whatever it can to be off the rails with it's wacky humor. But that was all part of the enjoyment of it. If you did hate Ferdinand, I would totally see why; Trust me on that. Your opinion of the movie may definitely depend on your taste in media. But give it a watch for yourself and you'll see what I mean. I cannot recommend Ferdinand enough.
Gordon-11
This film tells the story of a bull who does not like to fight, unlike the other bulls who live to have their glory in a bull fight.Bull fighting is rather cruel, I think. If I knew this film was about bulls that are trained to fight, then I probably would not have watched it. Fortunately, as this is a children's film, the violence is toned down. The various animals form a bond and help each other out, which is a nice thing to watch. Still, I don't agree with a from that may help to glorify bull fighting.
timothy-durey
The people that are giving bad ratings to this movie, I don't understand. Like maybe the killing part of the bull, but that's not what kids focus on. The story plot was amazing. The puns were a bit cringy, but that's what makes it funny! Their was a mix of character personalities, which made the movie good! The movie overall was great! I loved the movie and don't listen to the haters!