Us Again

***1/2

Reviewed by: Amber Wilkinson

Us Again
"No matter who exactly this is aimed at, the animation is beautiful to look at." | Photo: Disney

Historically, Disney have been in the business of making animation with the younger generation firmly in mind but this soft-shoe shuffle of a film - which is one of 15 on the Oscar shortlist - has got their nostalgic grandparents in its sights.

Made to accompany Raya And The Last Dragon, there's a spring in the step of Zach Parrish's wordless animation, a spring in every step of every person, in fact, except for one elderly gent, who refuses to be cheered up by his wife. The rain falling in his soul is soon washed away by a dose of the real stuff as, when he steps out on his balcony, the drops that fall on him transform him back to the dancer of his youth.

This transformation sparks a dance through the rain-slicked city streets with his wife, although what will happen when the shower is over? There's a real sense of "dad" energy to all this, which though it's likely to strike the right chord with all of us who wished bits of us still worked as well as they used to, may well go largely over the heads of younger members of the audience. They'll doubtless enjoy the dance moves but the lack of lyrics and the slightly retro-vibe to Pinar Toprak's music is also likely to work against it with the under-10s.

No matter who exactly this is aimed at, the animation is beautiful to look at. The city streets are also a bustle of colour and life and there's all sorts of different water here - rain, puddles and a river - always tricky to render in animation but perfectly tactile in all its states.If you're of a certain age, there's no doubt it'll make you want to dance with, or at the very least hug, your nearest and dearest.

Reviewed on: 29 Dec 2021
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Us Again packshot
An elderly couple find the rain washing away the years.

Director: Zach Parrish

Writer: Zach Parrish

Year: 2021

Runtime: 7 minutes

BBFC: U - Universal

Country: US

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