Ferdinand 2017

     This film is based on a book written by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson published March 31, 2011.  Ferdinand is destined to become a fearless fighting bull but now as a calf he is a young flower-loving pacifist living in Spain.  He pulls together his courage and escapes from a Spanish bull-training camp.  He leaves behind the other calves Bones, Guapo and Valiente.  He finds himself on little Nina’s idyllic and fragrant farm.  He has an unfortunate run-in with a busy golden bee and he’s sent back to the old Casa del Toro Academy.  He's being trained again to be a fighting bull.  The famous matador El Primero selects his worthy bull opponents for the arena at this academy.  Ferdinand is a mountain of muscles but can he continue to be a gentle giant?

     The other bulls want to be picked by El Primero but Ferdinand learns what really happens to the "lucky" bull chosen for the ring.  When he was returned to training, he learned that a Scottish bull named Angus and a silent but intimidating bull named Maquina have been added to the bull lineup.  Ferdinand tries to tell the other bulls what he knows but they won't listen!!  I thought this was interesting and good.  The film really brings the animals and people to life.  3 1/2* (I liked this movie)

 

108 min, Animation directed by Carlos Saldanha with the voices John Cena Kate McKinnon, Bobby Canavale, Jet Jurgensmeyer, Nile Diaz, Colin H. Murphy, Jeremy Sisto, Raul Esparza, Juanes, Jerrod Carmichael, Lily Day.

Note:  Imdb 6.7 out of 10, 71% critic 50% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon 4.6* out of 5* with 586 reviews, Metacritic 58 out of 100 with 20 critics 6.8 out of 10 with 71 reviews.

Special Note:  Filmed in Greenwich, Connecticut and Madrid, Spain.  The original Ferdinand The Bull was a Disney animated short first shown in 1938.  Nina and Ferdinand live in Ronda and it’s in the south of Spain. This village is known for having established the oldest bullring in the world in 1785.  Carlos Saldahna also directed three Ice Age films, two Rio films and Robots.  Koukoi Games released a mobile video gamed base on this film called Ferdinand: Unstoppabull.