Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
A gorilla named Ivan who’s living in a suburban shopping mall tries to piece together his past, with the help of other animals, as they hatch a plan to escape from captivity.
The One and Only Ivan is a competent, heartwarming family film with solid CGI animals and earnest performances from its voice cast and Sam Rockwell in particular. The plot follows a familiar 'captive animals seek freedom' arc that echoes numerous predecessors, keeping Novelty modest. Cinematography is functional but unremarkable for a mostly mall-set story. The ending delivers expected emotional satisfaction without surprising anyone. A reliable mid-tier family film that executes its formula warmly but rarely transcends it.