Never as rich and complex as some of the studio’s best films, The Good Dinosaur stands out nevertheless for its beautiful rendering of the natural world. Make sure you reach the theatre on time so you don’t miss the terrific animated short Sanjay’s Super Team, based on a “mostly true story” about how a little Indian boy came to discover and love the Hindu superhero gods that his father worshipped.

The idea is great, the animation is excellent — from the great floods to the small water droplets dripping off a dinosaur — and there is a clear, broad message thrown in — all no surprises for Pixar. However, this offering from the animation powerhouse falls the shortest on one of its strongest suits, the story.

From the first frame, you’ll instantly lose your heart to the vividly animated, bright milieu here. Arlo’s world is moulded with rich colours and the film’s animation is one of the best in recent times. Some shots of the forest, the snow-capped mountains and the river are beautifully done. But, in terms of story, The Good Dinosaur suffers a beating. It is far from novel and the writing is lazy.

The scenery has never looked more photorealistic than it does in this movie. Mychael Danna’s music is beautiful. Arlo and Spot share several moments you can keep returning to because they’re so damn well-captured. It’s just that…while it’s rather clear that most of the other dinosaurs seem worked on, Arlo and his ilk seem a little underwhelming to look at, at the outset. Also, Spot comes off a far cuter version of Sandy from The Croods, and one feels a little deja vu in that respect.

What exactly was Pixar’s plan? Make a flick similar to How To Train Your Dragon by substituting a dino for a dragon. The Good Dinosaur is predictable and for a change, shows T-rex in good light. It is strange that as long as Pixar’s films were set in the present (Toy Story, Cars, Up) or the future (Wall-E, The Incredibles), they were ground-breakers. No luck with the past though (Brave and The Good Dinosaur).

There are some truly amazing photo-realistic sets serving as true background for the adventure and it’s truly an awe-inspiring sight to behold. The visuals are stunning to say the least and so are the character definitions and movements. And there’s also a strong message underlining the adventure – an engaging mix to keep the young and old entertained!

The film works best in the scenes without any dialogue – the visuals are so powerful they either warm your hearts or bring some onions close to your eyes, and sometimes both. Dialogue was not needed in any scene. Had this been a totally silent film it would have become a real masterpiece. For now, this is merely a really good film that everyone should go and watch to have a good time.

For all those who moan about Indians only doing backend work in Hollywood, the short before the main feature, was Sanjay Patel’s trippy Sanjay’s Super Team. Watch The Good Dinosaur for the visuals, the hair-raising action, the heart-breaking beauty, for friendship and fun.

This film, replete with messages, is bound to appeal to parents and young viewers.

There are manipulative killers who can convince you to your own doom. There’s also the power of nature’s wrath in thunderstorms and raging rivers. But there are also ghastly looking kind souls who can help you in your journey. Friendship can replace hatred to add meaning to your life and make it a better one. It’s life-lessons like these that make this film all the more appealing.

After the edgy Inside Out and the superb short film Sanjay’s Super Team that precedes the main feature, The Good Dinosaur is disappointingly unadventurous. Peter Sohn designs the film like an American Western, but the coming of age story is a familiar one.