When Dora and the Lost City of Gold was announced, the live action version of the animated television sensation was met with a bit of reservation. From who? Just the press and all those who grew up with the elementary school aged heroine. This big screen Dora (as played by Isabela Merced) was going to be a teenager and that left many scratching their collective heads. Then, we saw it in theaters. It was an utter blast! Increasing her age played into the story they were telling (imagine that!) and yet the flick was still perfect for those who share Dora’s age and everyone else who is older (cough, more mature!).
Dora and the Lost City of Gold is now available on DVD, Blu-Ray, digital download and On Demand. If you haven’t seen it and are either a fan of the Latina youthful explorer or have children or know kids who are fans, do not hesitate to nab this home video release. Hint, hint … would make a great gift for those on your list as the holidays slowly but surely descend upon us.
Despite these on the outside changes, director James Bobin (The Muppets) was clearly well versed in the animated hit show that has entertained while educating millions. The spirit of the television stalwart is the lifeblood of the big screen jump and that is spotlighted within moments of the flick commencing. Viewers meet this teenage Dora and she is in the jungle, as she should be, alongside her pal Boots (voiced by Danny Trejo, as much talking as a CG monkey does). It takes a millisecond of meeting her parents to identify that the apple does not fall far from the explorer tree. Eva Longoria and Michael Peña are Elena and Cole and they’ve scored the backing to go after what they believe is the archeological find of the century—the elusive City of Gold. Thing is, Dora is not a part of this plan. She is being sent to Los Angeles to stay with her cousin Diego (Jeff Wahlberg), who has shot up!
Turns out, the high school urban jungle may be more theoretically dangerous than those found in South America.
The action gets turned up when a mysterious individual shows up, claiming to have been summoned by Dora’s parents. He’s played by one of the busiest actors working today, Eugenio Derbez—who has a blast as Alejandro as he sweeps Dora, Diego and two high school chums Randy (Nicholas Coombe) and Sammy (Madeleine Madden) off to find the City of Gold. Then, the funny really begins. Don’t get me wrong, the fish out of water lightheartedness of Dora in high school was a nice touch. But audiences want to witness Dora in her native environment, i.e. exploring.
Things get complicated to say the least. What is so fascinating is the attention to detail that is prevalent throughout Dora and the Lost City of Gold. Meaning that this could have easily pleased Dora’s fanbase with a story exactly like this and given Dora nation an adventure with two-dimensional help. Not only are Sammy and Randy given enough backstory that we are as compelled with their journey as the titular character. Then, there’s the part played by Wahlberg—one longtime fans of the show that debuted in the summer of 1999 know well. As captured in the live action big screen flick, that jungle-centric cousin has been lost after years living in So Cal. That fish out of water aspect of Dora in LA gets to be played for humor as Diego adjusts to the wilds. It strangely works and is a story alteration that pays off. What takes a little getting used to is a wee bit of a change to Dora’s longtime foe, Swiper (voiced by Oscar winner Benicio Del Toro. The orange fox gets an upgrade on many fronts in 2019, from his overall feel to … let’s just say in terms of with whom he aligns himself. But it works, as it is clear all involved always had their eye on the big picture. When all was said and done with Dora and the Lost City of Gold, smiles permeated as the entire world of a beloved heroine was faithfully captured by Bobin and his team.
Given his track record, that should hardly surprise. This is the guy who, with Jason Segel, brought The Muppets into a new century with two solid flicks. Now his background with Flight of the Concords provided the helmer with the experience of straddling that line between farce and folly. The reality of Dora is never compromised for the sake of a big splash to attract an audience. Given the parameters of Dora 2.0, the audience could not ask for more.
Given all the hubbub about the age advancement of the character on its way to the silver screen, the bonus feature, All About Dora is must-see TV. Witness how Merced transformed Dora into a jungle-savvy teenage adventurer for a new generation.
There’s an animated sequence in the flick that features a bevy of tributes to the character’s cartoon beginnings. Dora in Flower Vision takes a look at that part of the film and what it took to bring it to life and which nods to the original series made the cut.
Dora’s Jungle House is a terrific featurette in that it does exactly what we wanted to do during the movie itself—go inside Eva, Michael and Isabela’s jungle home and take the time to look around at the facility that is firmly a family home, but also a museum staging ground, explorer lab and much more.
A look at a few of the stunts get the focus with Derbez serving as our ambassador in Can You Say Pelicula? From the quicksand scene to the underwater stunts, the actor uses his trademark charm and humor to answer viewers’ questions about, “How did they do that?”
Lastly, there are some fun bloopers and deleted and extended scenes that all add up to Dora and the Lost City of Gold being one fun journey of cinematic exploration for all ages.
Film Grade: B
Bonus Features: B