I love being a part of Bébé Voyage‘s team!!! Did I ever tell you that? This year I have been so lucky to have been able to watch a preview of Luca the latest Disney Pixar movie. Much like its director, Enrico Casarosa, I come from the same part of Italy the film is set in, the Italian Riviera, and watching this movie was such a trip down memory lane. The movie has this really nostalgic feel to it and maybe it is because I have not been able to get back home since late 2019 or maybe because I can truly identify myself with the characters and those fun Italian summer months. If you plan to watch a family movie this year, make sure it is this one.
Set in the glorious Italian Riviera of the 1950s, Luca is the perfect summer family movie. A coming-of-age story about sea creatures, self-acceptance, discovery and most importantly friendship.
Luca (Jacob Tremblay) is a sea monster who longs to leave behind his sheltered life under the sea to find out more about the fascinating human world. A little bit like Ariel, he collects random objects, like an old clock and playing cards, to try and satisfy his curiosity.
It all changes when he meets Alberto (Jack Dylan Grazer) who it just so happens is a sea monster like him who lives on land!
The two become fast buddies, compensating, tempering, and pushing each other when needed, dreaming of buying a Vespa and traveling the world together, whilst eating kilos of gelato.
They run away to the town of Portorosso pretending to be humans to try and fit with the village life. Here they meet Giulia (Emma Berman) another misfit and join her in her dream of winning the Portorosso cup, an Italian triathlon consisting of swimming, cycling, and of course eating pasta. The winning prize? Money to buy their Vespa!
Yes, the story is a little predictable, with the polar opposite friends, Luca calm and careful and Alberto loud and adventurous, becoming close and then clashing to reunite at the end and be accepted by both the human world and the sea creatures’ world in the form of Luca’s parents (Maya Rudolph and Jim Gaffigan) but that is probably why it’s so charming.
Luca is heart-warming, fun and nostalgic. It brings back memories of summer’s adventures and those life-changing friendships we have all experienced growing up. So, grab yourself some gelato, switch on your TV and indulge in some Italian summer.
Luca is available on Disney+ from June 18.
In case Luca has awakened the Italian wanderlust in you, make sure to check the below articles for some true Italian magic.
