With: Karl Urban, Zaris-Angel Hator, Jared Harris, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Dan Stevens, Jim Carter, Kathy Burke, Helen Sadler, Shannon Chan-Kent, David S. Lee, Doon Mackichan, Brian T. Delaney, Ian Mercer, Xana Tang
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Written by: Chris Williams, Nell Benjamin
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Directed by: Chris Williams
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MPAA Rating: PG for action, violence and some language
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Running Time: 115
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Date: 07/08/2022
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Deep Friend
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
Directed and co-written by Chris Williams (Moana, Big Hero 6), the animated adventure The Sea Beast has certain things in common with the How to Train Your Dragon series, but is quite a bit more daring in its themes, and more tactile in its physical presentation. A ship called The Inevitable — led by the crusty Captain Crow (voiced by Jared Harris) and his scowling first mate Sarah Sharpe (voiced by Marianne Jean-Baptiste) — is charged with hunting giant sea monsters. The Captain is nearly ready to pass on his mantle to his adoptive son Jacob (voiced by Karl Urban), but on this voyage, a young stowaway, Maisie (voiced by Zaris-Angel Hator), upsets things. She and Jacob discover that the beast known as the Red Bluster actually means no harm. The superb animation captures the feel of the sea, the size, weight, and texture of the monster, and plenty of other vivid details. During the final denouement, the story subtly equates the monsters — innocent but painted by those in power to look dangerous — with immigrants, creating an emotional, rather than contextual, impact.
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