Opened: November 23, 2022

Directed by: Don Hall

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Dennis Quaid, Jaboukie Young-White, Gabrielle Union, Lucy Liu, Karan Soni, Alan Tudyk, Adelina Anthony, Abraham Benrubi, Jonathan Melo, Nik Dodani & Francesca Reale

There was so much potential in Strange World with its wonderfully diverse characters – an interracial couple, their biracial openly gay son and a disabled dog – but you can feel Disney’s hesitation by trying to rely on a familiar script and their unwillingness to market it.

Years after Jaeger Clade (Dennis Quaid) disappears during an exploration, his son Searcher (Jake Gyllenhaal) is sent on a mission to save the country’s energy source. Searcher’s son Ethan (Jaboukie Young-White) and wife Meridian (Gabrielle Union) come along, and they’re all reunited with Jaeger.

There’s a lack of creativity in the story. When you boil down the plot points, we’ve seen them all before, especially the “you don’t understand me dad” trope that happens between two sets of characters here. It’s all good but none of it is great.

Final say: Disney failed this world. ★★★☆☆