Geek Review: Abominable

The Abominable Snowman or the Yeti is a folklore creature that is said to inhabit the Himalayan Mountains. Do an online search and you’re going to see images of an ape-like being that is way larger than a human. Even if you consider all the myths and legends about the creature, it is anything but cute. And in no way does it look like the one depicted in this animated film directed by Jill Culton.

But hey, it is a movie targeted at kids so everything’s gotta be adorable, furry and huggable.

The protagonist is Yi, a teenager who is mourning the death of her beloved father. She discovers a Yeti on the rooftop of her apartment and the creature becomes part of her life because it needs help getting home to Mount Everest. Together with her two friends Jin and Peng, she goes on an adventure with bad guys on their trail. Will there be a happy ending for the good guys, and comeuppance for the baddies? You bet.

The film, produced by DreamWorks Animation and Pearl Studio (a production company founded as a joint venture by DreamWorks Animation and Chinese investment companies) is a visual treat. The cosmopolitan skyscrapers of Shanghai and the snowy landscapes of Everest are beautifully animated, and it makes you want to take a holiday as soon as possible. The Yeti has a magical power that makes some of the film’s most mesmerising sequences: when it hums, clouds become koi-shaped, blueberries puff up and yellow flowers fold themselves spectacularly.

The characters are likeable and relatable for young viewers. Yi (Chloe Bennet) is an introverted violin-playing girl who has views she hasn’t vocalized, and Jin (Tenzing Norgay Trainor) is a too-cool-to-be-true teenager who is concerned about impressions more than anything else, while Peng (Albert Tsai) is a chubby kid whose cheeks you want to pinch. The bad guys, voiced by Eddie Izzard and Sarah Paulson are typical antagonists who you can spot a mile away. As an Asia-focused tale, it is also interesting to see how the story depicts Asian values. We also love the scenes where Yi’s grandmother prepares familiar Chinese dishes for the family.

While the 97-minute movie is very enjoyable (there are some inventive action scenes involving car chases, dart guns and mountain climbing), it is essentially a safe movie that aims at the lowest common denominator that provides fun for the whole family. It delivers wholesome messages of friendship and kindness, while reminding you that things will be better when people work as a team, and it is important to love Mother Nature. To appeal to the Western audiences, Coldplay’s “Fix It” plays at a pivotal scene where Yi plays her late father’s violin.

We are not complaining about the safe approach taken for this film, because the result is delightful entertainment for young and old viewers. It may be a movie that feels generic, but the charismatic trio of protagonists makes up for it. Their road trip adventure is one that young viewers may be yearning to go on, and the journey of finding themselves is a lesson that can only be experienced and not found in textbooks. 

Marketed as a film that is from the studio that produced How To Train Your Dragon, it is a piece of work that is similarly good-hearted, and boasting lovely visuals that keep your eyes glued on the screen.