Film Review – Ruby Gillman: Teenage Kraken

A sea creature of legend, emerging with enormous ferocity, the kraken hasn’t enjoyed the friendliest representation in big screen entertainment. One was memorably released in all versions of “Clash of the Titans,” and the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise also depicted the destructive ways of the monster. “Ruby Gillman: Teenage Kraken” hopes to offer a friendlier side to the story, with the eponymous character not an oceanic disaster waiting to happen, but an adolescent trying to find her way in the world, soon encountering her heroic side. DreamWorks Animation attempts to merge coming-of-age anxiety and deep-sea adventure for a slightly older audience with the feature, pumping up the endeavor with plenty of charm, nicely textured animation, and an outstanding voice cast. Dramatic potency is missing with the largely formulaic tale, but “Teenage Kraken” is sharply paced, colorful, and enjoyable. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com