Forgotten Island
After describing Manananggal, a winged vampiric woman who can split her body at the waist to attack on two fronts, as part of an elementary school project on her family, Jo (H.E.R.), who was prepared to douse the front row with fake blood, is sent to principal's office where she will meet the more restrained, but appreciative, Raissa (Liza Soberano, "Lisa Frankenstein"), who tells her 'you had me at disembowelment.' These two become fast friends, hearing tales of the island where that monster came from, Nakali, from Jo's grandmother Lola (voice of "Triangle of Sadness'" Dolly de Leon) who claims to have visited it in her youth. Just as the girls are about to graduate high school, she passes away and Jo becomes determined to find her "Forgotten Island."
Laura's Review: B
This fem Filipino fantasy features some pretty wild animation, as if the plasticine personalities of Pixar were dipped in anime, then handed over to Tex Avery for exaggerated reactions which change their very features, large limpid eyes turning into small dots, mouths becoming jagged maws, as if interchangeable Colorforms were being applied. Some sequences are also done in the style of 2D hand drawn animation. From the reality of the Philippines to the surreality of Nakali, the film's palette is bursting with color, but the story itself is a mix of the clichéd and the outré and there is a manic quality to the pacing that might not be to all tastes.
"Puss in Boots: The Last Wish" writer/directors Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado utilize their forgotten island to test the bonds of a friendship when Raissa, the smart, accomplished one, chooses to attend Caltech in the U.S., leaving Jo, who's been cycling through a series of fast food restaurant jobs, behind. These girls' histories are contained in their matching friendship bracelets, charms designating everything from creatures Lola has told them about to miniature cassette tapes designating their first mix tape. Lola, who nurtured the two girls' imaginations, tells of a magic sand dollar which worked as a portal key to Nakali, but also advises Jo that she won't be able to find the key as the key would find her.
And so on the night before Raissa is set to fly to California, the two have a last hang on the broken down bus Jo once inadvertently sent over a railing, landing on a beach. As evening sets in, a glow in the water draws Jo's attention and sure enough, it is the same sand dollar she's been wishing for. It takes a bit to convince Raissa, but the two take the plunge, landing on another beach in a very different place, Raissa astonished that half her hair appears to be missing and she's sporting The Dreaded Manananggal's (voice of Lea Salonga) wings, both panicking over the whereabouts of the portal key which they cannot find. The first creature they'll interact with is a were-dog named Raww (voice of Dave Franco), who convinces them they are already the best of friends, having spent a wild evening together that neither girl can remember despite all three's matching 'Wild Pack' tattoos, the reasons the Internet has been comparing this movie to "The Hangover."
Guided by Raww, whose appearance and temperament will continue to morph, Jo and Raissa meet Batiba (voice of Jenny Slate), a giant cat who looks like a cross between 'Alice in Wonderland's' Chesire cat and Maneki-neko. Jo will figure out that Batiba has agoraphobia, which is why she demands others' memories for favors, like returning the girls' memory of the night before, to live vicariously through others' experiences. Batiba's demand for a complete friendship bracelet is turned down, so Raww takes them to the marketplace, where Jo and Raissa are surprised to be recognized. A blue 8 foot tall demon baby with three eyes and small horns named Bungi Tiyanak (voice of Manny Jacinto, TV's 'The Good Place') who creates living tapestries will join their entourage, as will the turquoise-hued Prince Mermahn (voice of Kevin McCann), a vain merman who turns into a shriveled ghoul when dehydrated. They'll incur the wrath of King Truffle Wuffle (voice of 'The Daily Show's' Ronny Chieng), leader of a horde of small, mushroom-shaped creatures, and the benevolence of Datu (voice of Jo Koy), the Kapre leader of tree giants. And, of course, Manananggal wants her wings back.
While all of these creatures are based on actual Filipino folklore, they are so bizarre "Forgotten Island" could be accused of an over-stimulated imagination. And yet the film goes to some obvious places too, a rift between the girls springing up as Raissa sees her future dreams being dashed followed by both a betrayal and unimaginable sacrifice by Jo which Raissa will then rush to counteract. But "Forgotten Island's" animation is so unique, it is a pleasure unto itself and the film also sports a well-curated soundtrack with H.E.R. and Soberano's 'BRB,' Soberano's cover of 'Never Tear Us Apart,' and tracks from BINI and Filipino boy band SB19. Nathan Matthew David's score features Salonga's vocals.
Universal Pictures releases "Forgotten Island" in theaters on 9/25/26.
