Dir: Joel Crawford, Januel Mercado
Cast: H.E.R., Liza Soberano, Dave Franco, Lea Salonga, Manny Jacinto, Jenny Slate, Jo Koy, Dolly de Leon, Ronny Chieng, Amielynn Abellera
Forgotten Island is a new DreamWorks movie about friendship. The film follows the story of two rebel girls, Raissa and Jo, who sit outside the principal’s office in an early-’90s Filipino high school. They become best friends and their lifelong bond is documented not by social media reels but physical Polaroids. As they grow up, they face various challenges, including their graduation day, when Raissa’s parents want her to study in the US, while Jo reminds her friend to follow her own path. During their semi-argument, they fall through a shimmering portal to the mysterious island of Nakali, where they encounter various creatures from Filipino folklore, including the vampire-wraith Manananggal. The island is wiping their shared memories, one-by-one, until nothing remains of their friendship.
The film features a winning collision of legends and new talent, many of them of Filipino descent. The movie is a family-friendly film with a PG rating, making it suitable for all ages. The film’s retro inspiration is evident, with the director citing Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels’ friendship in Dumb And Dumber as one of the best love stories ever told. The film’s animation style is also notable, with a unique blend of anime and painterly styles, designed to push the artform onward while evoking the nostalgia of this analogue-themed movie.
