Film Review: The One And Only Ivan

Based on K. A. Applegate’s children’s book of the same name, The One And Only Ivan is about a gorilla named Ivan (Sam Rockwell) who is the headliner at circus that operates in a shopping mall that is owned by Mack (Bryan Cranston). Working along with Ivan is an elephant Stella (Angelina Jolie), a poodle Snickers (Helen Mirren), a chicken Henrietta (Chaka Khan), a rabbit Murphy (Ron Funches), a parrot Thelma (Phillipa Soo), and a seal Frankie (Mike White). There’s also a stray dog named Bob (Danny DeVito) that has made the place his home, much to Mack’s dismay.

Business hasn’t been what it used to be, so in an effort to help draw in the  kind of crowds they used to have in the good old days, Mack brings in a baby elephant Ruby (Brooklynn Prince) to be the new headliner. It seems to work, but Ruby doesn’t have the kind of natural showmanship that Ivan does. Stella does not want Ruby to be stuck in a cage her whole life like she did, so Ivan promises her to find a way to set Ruby free. Meanwhile, Ivan tries to piece together his past, before being taken in by Mack, which has largely faded from memory.

The film starts off on an unintentionally funny note, with the words “Inspired By A True Story” coming to the screen after the Disney logo, followed immediately by a shot of Ivan staring into the camera saying, “Hi, I’m Ivan, I’m a gorilla.” It should go without saying, but the film, and I’m assuming by extension the book (I have not read it), bear very little resemblance to the real story that inspired it. Not that it’s inherently a bad thing, but it’s definitely a strange way to kind of sell this story.

There is quite a bit to like about how director, Thea Sharrock, and writer, Mike White, approach the story. It doesn’t have many of the usual touches you’d see in a family film. It’s not moving at a frenetic pace, it’s not filled with relentless pop culture heavy humor, and crass material is kept at a minimum – I believe there was a single fart joke. I was surprised by some of its patience, its melancholy, and its willingness to have somber moments play out as long as it needs to in order to have an impact.

The animals all appear to be computer generated, though I’m not sure how much motion capture may or may not have been involved. Either way, the effects here are solid. There’s a sense of weight and presence with the animals, there’s a an incredible amount of texture and detail put in, and there’s a strong, believable dynamic whenever the animals are interacting with human characters such as Julia (Ariana Greenblatt), the young daughter of the mall’s janitor, George (Ramón Rodríguez).

What helps of course is that the star studded cast do a lot to bring emotional heft to these otherwise basic characters. Rockwell has a strong but gentle likability that makes Ivan a character that’s easy to get behind. Cranston’s presence adds a sense of history, specifically in his relationship with Ivan, that is deeply felt, even though we only get a brief glimpse of their past. Prince avoids going too cutesy as the baby elephant. The tone is certainly a bit broad, so it allows for some level of hamminess, and it all works and comes together well. There isn’t a weak link here.

As a parable about the harms of animal captivity, The One And Only Ivan, is fairly simplistic, but given its young target audience, it makes sense, and on that level, I think the film works fine. It’s incredibly earnest, it has an admirable message, and the performances are very charming. It’s not as good as some of the better Disney+ films like Togo, but it’s still a lovely and sweet little romp that is easy to like and get sucked into. There is a compelling story to be told that stays more true to the real Ivan’s story without all the shenanigans, but I don’t see why there isn’t room for stuff like this. One could easily see how a film like this could end up far worse (remember Dolittle?). The One And Only Ivan doesn’t demand too much from anyone watching, but it doesn’t use that as a crutch, offering a cute adventure that has convictions in its slightly more subtle and tender approach, and it’s all the better for it.

The One And Only Ivan is now available on Disney+.