The most impressive thing about Dora And The Lost City Of Gold is that it doesn't succumb to the temptation to do a cynical, adult-oriented satire of the NickelodeonTV show — despite its live-action cast and its Actionized Adaptation elements, this is a movie that (tonally) fits in with the show without too much effort.
Whether this is good or bad is up to you.
If you're expecting a joke-filledAffectionate ParodyDeconstruction in the vein of The Brady Bunch, you'll be somewhat disappointed here. While Dora And The Lost City Of Gold does dip into the meta-humor from time to time ("♪ There were times when it was scary / I think I may have dysentery ♪"), it's a garnish to the film, which at its heart is a kid-friendly Indiana Jones adventure. And "kid-friendly" is the key here — the movie never takes itself too seriously or presents any overwhelming stakes, making it suitable for all but the youngest viewers, but that tone also gives it a breezy atmosphere that can leave older viewers bored at times.
Overall, the movie comes across as 90 minutes of wry chuckles, an amusing but forgettable way to pass the time. And while this could have been a funnier, more adult-oriented film, in a way I'm glad it wasn't — because Dora (both the character and the franchise) is at her best when she's an optimistic innocent, and Dora And The Lost City Of Gold ultimately does nothing to disturb that.
A wry comedy adventure for the entire family
The most impressive thing about Dora And The Lost City Of Gold is that it doesn't succumb to the temptation to do a cynical, adult-oriented satire of the Nickelodeon TV show — despite its live-action cast and its Actionized Adaptation elements, this is a movie that (tonally) fits in with the show without too much effort.
Whether this is good or bad is up to you.
If you're expecting a joke-filled Affectionate Parody Deconstruction in the vein of The Brady Bunch, you'll be somewhat disappointed here. While Dora And The Lost City Of Gold does dip into the meta-humor from time to time ("♪ There were times when it was scary / I think I may have dysentery ♪"), it's a garnish to the film, which at its heart is a kid-friendly Indiana Jones adventure. And "kid-friendly" is the key here — the movie never takes itself too seriously or presents any overwhelming stakes, making it suitable for all but the youngest viewers, but that tone also gives it a breezy atmosphere that can leave older viewers bored at times.
Overall, the movie comes across as 90 minutes of wry chuckles, an amusing but forgettable way to pass the time. And while this could have been a funnier, more adult-oriented film, in a way I'm glad it wasn't — because Dora (both the character and the franchise) is at her best when she's an optimistic innocent, and Dora And The Lost City Of Gold ultimately does nothing to disturb that.