A Sloth Storysprinkles sazón picante on the lovable critters in a teachable narrative about a Latino family sticking together when the going gets tough. These anthropomorphic CGI sloths are far from sluggish tree-dwellers. They dance salsa and merengue while cooking up delectable goodness for gorditas-loving gringos.The surprisingly deep plot tackles serious themes with frank honesty, but does tread melodramatic in a labored second act.The pacing thankfully recovers for a kooky and colorful finale that’s sure to lift the spirits of all ages.
Laura (Teo Vergara) waits tables at her family’s Tropicasa restaurant. She spins wild yarns of her parents' adventures in a humorous nod toIndiana Jones. Some customers are enthralled, but others are tired of waiting for their food. Her mother, Gabriella (Olivia Vásquez), preaches patience in cooking. She works diligently from a treasured recipe book. These yummy flavors are meant to be savored. Luis (Benjamin Gorroño), Laura’s father, and Mani (Facundo Hache Herrera), her older brother, agree with Mama’s philosophy. They don’t understand why Laura is so bored with their lifestyle.
Sloth Family Values
A Sloth Story
A Sloth Story follows a speedy sloth named Laura and her eccentric family as they relocate to a bustling city in their food truck after a devastating storm. Their culinary skills attract the attention of a shrewd cheetah keen on resurrecting her own fast-food empire.
Fate intervenes when a massive storm destroys their beloved restaurant.The only thing spared is Gordita, Luis' old food truck. He convinces his reticent wife that there’s nothing left to rebuild. They should try their luck in Sanctuary City with a new start. Laura is overjoyed at this development. The Flores family packs into Gordita with big dreams that soon come crashing down to Earth.
Weeks go by without a single customer. Nobody wants to wait for Gabriella’s perfect meal, no matter how good it tastes. Laura gets an idea from watching Zoom Fuel fast food ads on TV. The franchise’s cheetah proprietor, Dotti Pace (Leslie Jones), has customers racing out the door hopped up on Zoom (aka caffeine).Laura believes learning her fast food methods will give the family business a much-needed spark.
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A Sloth Storygrabs your attention with its distinct visual style. The CGI looks crisp enough, but it’s not fluid with a slower frame rate.The animation has a stop-motion feel that’s quite different from similar films in the genre.I can only guess that co-directors Tania Vincent and Ricard Cussó, who previously worked together onScarygirl, wanted to emulate a sloth’s movement on screen. It’s certainly a creative approach and reinforces what makes the characters unique.
A Sloth Storyloads the burrito with fillings and toppings.There’s a lot going on in the script.This may be overkill, but Vincent and Cussó get the effort badge for covering a lot of ground about serious ramifications. The Flores family lose their home, livelihood, and are left with almost nothing. Think of the fires in Los Angeles or the floods in North Carolina. We sometimes forget that children are also affected by devastation. Everything they hold dear and gives them comfort is gone in a flash. They’re forced to adapt to a new environment. Some, like Laura, will embrace change, but most won’t handle displacement well.A Sloth Storyteaches kids to be resilient and roll with the punches.This is the film’s best tenet.
Food Truck Delights
Vincent and Cussó bite off more than they can chew with another substantial dramatic wrinkle.Gabriella suffers from memory loss.This isn’t cute or funny, but shown as a degenerative disease like dementia or Alzheimer’s. She’s afraid to acknowledge what’s happening, and it drives a wedge between her and Laura. This subplot may fly over the heads of most children, but will resonate with those who have a sick parent. These scenes are tactfully handled.My concern is that this arc builds to a point where it’s too realistic.You’re left with the thought that Gabriella will only get worse. That’s a bummer and tamps down the fun elements.
A Sloth Storysucceeds with its multicultural appeal. Sanctuary City may have a double meaning, but let’s leave politics out of this equation. The Flores family interacts with a variety of animals willing to try their tasty Spanish food while mangling the pronunciation of quesadillas.The film embraces their heritage and shows how having an open mind results in joyous discoveries.The musical aspects, not being a salsa fan by a country mile, are present throughout but not jarring.
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A Yummy Reminder
I did get a kick out of lambasting Zoom Fuel and criminally unhealthy fast food corporations. Laura marvels at fast food’s speed and efficiency, but the final product is loaded with chemicals and tastes like recycled garbage. Dotti keeps adding more Zoom to her burgers. Let’s just say it leads to unexpected consequences for her hapless customers.Laura learns that assembly line cooking doesn’t mean better food.Scenes of her squeezing ripe avocados and planting vegetables with her father remind us that natural produce is healthiest.Take a look at the fine print beside popular fast food menus.Sodium, sugar, fat, calories, and chemical warnings read like bomb ingredients. There’s a reason why obesity and juvenile diabetes are skyrocketing.
A Sloth Storyis produced by Like A Photon Creative and was previously titledThe Sloth Lane. It will be released theatrically on February 28th from Blue Fox Entertainment.
