DONKEY X/ DONKEY XOTE

2007, Phase 4 Films

Animation

Rating: PG

Approx. 90 mins.

THE STORY:

This Spanish film is a retelling of Don Quixote delivered by the donkey Rucio, who disputes Cervantes’ account and wants to set the record straight. In Rucio’s version, Don Quixote is not haplessly delusional, but an eternal optimist who sees the truth that others aren’t yet able to.

The story begins with Sancho Panza and Don Quixote setting off for Barcelona to find treasure and Quixote’s dream girl, Dulcinea. That he has never met her and that she may well not exist don’t slow him down at all. Along their journey, they run into bad characters who attempt to deceive and deflect him. In the end, Don Quixote finds what he is looking for if not how he expects to.   

QUESTIONABLE LANGUAGE:

• Cut the crap
• Stupid
• Shut up
• You are, like, so pathetic
• Damn

VIOLENCE:

• Jousting
• Human on human and animal on animal fighting

TEACHING POINTS:

• Believing in yourself and what you want can get you what you want

THE UPSHOT:

I wish I could blame my dislike of this film on the bad dubbing (particularly that of the main characters); but, alas, there is plenty more to disappoint. First and foremost, the story line was very hard for my 4 year-old—and sometimes me, I admit—to follow. Things move fast and not always in the way that seems logical to a young mind.  Visually and gesturally, Rucio seems to mimic the donkey character from Shrek, but he shares none of the latter’s personality or humour.

While there are some slightly crude pee and gas references, they are subtle enough both not to be funny and to pass without much notice. What is concerning to me is the depiction of women and of breasts in particular. The female characters have very—very—generous necklines, and attention is drawn through subtle and very—very—overt gestures to their embellishments.  

The one positive I can find to say about Donkey X is that the quality of the animation is good. It looks good, if nothing else.

1/5