Quartile rating: 6/10 · 1 rating
On a tiny exotic island, Tuesday, an outgoing parrot lives with his quirky animal friends in paradise. However, Tuesday can't stop dreaming about discovering the world. After a violent storm, Tuesday and his friends wake up to find a strange creature on the beach: Robinson Crusoe. Tuesday immediately views Crusoe as his ticket off the island to explore new lands. Likewise, Crusoe soon realizes that the key to surviving on the island is through the help of Tuesday and the other animals. It isn't always easy at first, as the animals don't speak "human." Slowly but surely, they all start living together in harmony, until one day, when their comfortable life is overturned by two savage cats, who wish to take control of the island. A battle ensues between the cats and the group of friends but Crusoe and the animals soon discover the true power of friendship up against all odds (even savage cats).
Robinson Crusoe (2016) is a middling animated family film that retells the classic story from the animals' perspective, particularly the parrot Tuesday. The plot is predictable and formulaic, adding little depth to the source material and relying on tired friendship-and-bullying tropes. The voice acting is serviceable but unremarkable, fitting squarely in the lower tier of animated family features. The 3D animation shows some visual competence, with colorful island environments that are pleasant if not exceptional. Novelty is low — the animal-perspective twist on Crusoe is a thin conceit that doesn't yield much creative payoff, and the villain cats feel like recycled antagonists. The ending resolves predictably with a friendship-conquers-all message, offering no surprises. Overall a below-average animated feature that lands around its modest reputation.