Lorenzo (2004)
8/10
A "tail" of humility
4 June 2019
Watching Disney films (animated and live action), shows and cartoons shaped my childhood, a couple of their films were among my first ever even ('Cinderella', 'Peter Pan' and 'The Lion King', still love all three). As a young adult most, not all mind, still hold up between very well and brilliantly. It is very sad though that with exceptions their output now does not have the same magic, like for instance 'Phineas and Ferb' is pretty much the only show on the Disney Channel worth watching from personal opinion.

Don't consider 'Lorenzo' one of their best short films or among the best they've ever done, but found myself surprisingly liking it very much after giving it the benefit of the doubt, after not expecting too much. From the description, was honestly expecting something that may be well made but was not very funny, charmless and potentially distasteful with a titular character that could veer on the wrong side of obnoxious. Didn't find it to be any of those things, other than the well made, really did think that something entertaining could be made out of an annoying sounding cat with a tail of its own but 'Lorenzo' manages that feat.

The story is slight and could have had a little more momentum to begin with.

At times, the music is a touch too intrusive.

However, the animation is just fantastic and blends the different animation styles expertly, while executing the animation styles with astonishing detail and colours full of vibrancy and atmosphere. The music a vast majority of the time is very catchy and is an entertaining fit, anybody who loves tango music will be in heaven. Can understand why 'Lorenzo' won't be for all tastes tonally, am going to join the camp of those that found it very funny and surprisingly full of charm

Even if the lead character's methods are darkly brutal though also very funny and clever. To me though, those methods were not overly freaky. Neither did the story, which is compelling once it gets going, come over as mean-spirited to me, despite how it sounds like hearing about it. The lead character is purposefully obnoxious but this trait is not overdone, so he manages to be entertaining and rootable still as well.

Concluding, surprisingly very good. 8/10
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