Modern-day family adventure films aren’t my usual cup of tea. I’m somewhat under the belief that the best family films to you are the ones that came out when you were a kid. For me, one of the best family films is Cheaper by The Dozen, it has a lot of emotion, comedy and is great for everyone to watch. I’m happy to say Flora & Ulysses has these qualities too whilst also being a film for the whole family to watch.
Flora & Ulysses follows the story of a young girl named Flora (played by Matilda Lawler). One day Flora saves a squirrel from her neighbour’s vacuum, the squirrel dies but Flora brings it back to life. Flora, an avid comic book and superhero fan because of her father, realises that the Squirrel, which she names Ulysses, has gained superpowers. This takes them on an adventure to realise Ulysses purpose whilst her family is trying to come back together around her.
Directed by Lena Khan, the film is a strong family adventure film set in a small town. The story of Flora and her family will be relatable to many children today. Family movies in the past were normally families that were close together and then throughout the movie that family drifted apart. In Flora & Ulysses, Flora’s parents Phyllis & George (Alyson Hannigan & Ben Schwartz) are already apart, which is certainly more relatable to kids today as opposed to kids from the previous generation.
Flora’s story of figuring out why her parents were apart and balancing her life between both parents is crucial to the film’s success. This aspect of her character makes her a strong and independent child and one that many kids will look up too. Her willingness to fight for what’s right and what makes her happy is the type of aspiration any parent would want their kids to have.
The big bad guy in the film is an animal control officer named Miller, played brilliantly by Community’s Danny Pudi. Pudi’s character is your classic family film villain and his jokes, attitude and out of control determination is up there with the bad guys from Home Alone. Miller is a worthy adversary to Flora & Ulysses.
The supporting cast is all fantastic and hilarious as well. There is certainly something here for everyone with Ben Schwartz being his usual funny self. Alyson Hannigan perfect plays a down on her luck romance novelist and Flora’s temporarily blind friend William (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) filling out the rest of the movie’s comedy with his case of hysterical blindness.
The stars are Flora & Ulysses though, their bond will make every kid watching the film want a squirrel for a friend. Matilda Lawler is a fantastic up and coming actress as her acting skills shine when next to her great co-stars and the CGI squirrel Ulysses. Ulysses doesn’t look out of place and the effects used to create him doesn’t look bad nor will it age badly like a lot of kids films do over the years. Ulysses being cute and funny drives the story along and helps create a lot of emotion in what is a pretty emotional final act for the movie.
There is something for every viewer in Flora & Ulysses no matter your age. Disney has created a wonderful comic book family film that isn’t a Marvel movie. It would be a great starting point for kids getting into comic book movies. Flora & Ulysses is one of the best family films Disney has made in the past few years. It’s a great start to Disney+ original films line-up. If you have kids then Flora & Ulysses is a must-see film.