"Dora and the Lost City of Gold" [REVIEW]
Dora opens in theatres on August 9th, 2019
SPOILERS AHEAD:
Like most people, I’m sure, I was understandably skeptical about Dora and the Lost City of Gold until I watched this trailer. And though watching the trailer helped me, if you are a skeptic I highly suggest you go in blind. I convinced a friend (who is a tremendously tough critic when it comes to comedy) to check it out with me and they were completely surprised at how much they enjoyed the film. While I was by no means expecting a masterpiece, I was definitely expecting to laugh at a film that’s completely self aware, and more adult than the source material. And Dora exceeded those expectations.
The film opens with Dora, as a child in her home in the jungle with her parents played by Eva Longoria and Michael Peña. While I am the first to admit a devout admiration for Michael Peña, it was a complete pleasure to see him work with Eva Longoria in roles that suited them both. Through them, we come to understand why Dora is Dora…sort of. She is still very much a person of her own creation, but the love for knowledge, adventure, and morality are what her parents instill in her.
When Dora grows to be a teenager, played by Isabela Moner, the adventure really begins as her parents decide to go on a quest to find a lost city of gold without her. To keep Dora safe, they send her to Los Angeles to live with her cousin Diego (Jeff Wahlberg). Of course “safe” is a relative term. This is where the story really takes off as Dora’s parents are kidnapped and she has to go to Peru to save them.
Given the predictable lost treasure/lost family/Indiana Jones storyline, what surprised me about the film wasn’t the quality of the filmmaking, or the imaginativeness of the adaptation, but the reclaiming of a colonized narrative that has long been in white hands with their own agenda. The magic that Dora brings is that we finally see the treasure quest narrative through our own eyes. Dora takes the helm in this quest, and is a total badass about it — in a kid friendly way. Throughout the film, filmmakers boldly call out the destructiveness of colonization to the Americas without seeming preachy, just matter of fact, and with tremendous humor. And though I felt that the portrayal of the Incan indigenous people was respectful, their utilization as warriors that protect the Lost City of Gold still feels a little bit like a story stepping stone. The next step is elevating the indigenous narrative further, bringing it to the forefront which is something that could have been done with Q’orianka Kilcher’s character the Inca Princess Kawillaka. But still, the inclusion of their language and presence did not give me the same “ugh” that Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom gives me. It felt more empowering, less manipulative.
Although one major criticism is that while the cast and storyline do project inclusivity, the credits above the line do not. While Eugenio Derbez is credited as a producer and supporting role, there weren’t any other brown names or faces (from what I could tell) that are attached to the film in a major capacity. This is a crucial step missing in the process, and one that could’ve made a major difference in the Inca storyline. And while this question of inclusion does not make this film any less funny, smart, self-aware, or fun, it would affect the future of our stories and how they are portrayed on-screen. And I, for one, would love to see more films that I would be excited to take my niece to so that she knows she has the power to take the reins of her own journey without question, doubt, or reservation. Just like Dora.
All of this being said, I say check it out!! It’s a great film that’s funny for everyone, take your nana, tata, tios, primas, aunties, bros, whomever you want. Everyone is bound to get something out of this film. Even if anti-colonization jokes aren’t your thing.