Matilda Lawler delights, but "Flora & Ulysses" is tolerable at best

Flora & Ulysses (2021)


Enthusiasm is not a problem with “Flora & Ulysses,” a Disney-produced adaptation of Kate DiCamillo’s 2013 Newbery Award-winning children's book about a young girl and her superhero-ish squirrel. The Flora in the equation is played by a winning Matilda Lawler, whose 10-year-old character is supposed to be a self-described cynic. The actress herself has a warmth and natural excitability, radiating such joy that she convinces us otherwise. Half of the work is done, but the little rodent might be the least compelling element, as if no one figured out what to do with him. Director Lena Khan (2016’s “The Tiger Hunter”) and writer Brad Copeland (2019’s “Spies in Disguise”) do bring a light touch and a welcome weird streak to some of this, and it’s quite a relief that the critter never gets to actually talk. It’s when the film keeps favoring mugging and bull-in-a-china-shop slapstick hijinks that such desperation overrides a sweet-hearted story.


As cynical as a 10-year-old can possibly be, young Flora tries losing herself in comic books since her parents have separated. Her mother, Phyllis (Alyson Hannigan), has hit a creative wall in writing her latest romance novel, and dad George (Ben Schwartz) gave up his career as a comic book artist to work at a low-level Staples store. When a neighbor’s smart vacuum goes AWOL and runs over a squirrel, Flora resuscitates the rodent—yes with mouth-to-mouth—and perks him back to life. Only now her little buddy, whom she names Ulysses (like the vacuum brand), seems to have the powers of a superhero. He’s sentient and can sort of fly and write poetry on Phyllis’ typewriter. Flora must keep Ulysses hidden from Mom, but Dad, being the superhero creator, takes a liking to him. Meanwhile, park ranger-turned-animal control officer Miller (Danny Pudi) is out to tranquilize the heroic squirrel after allegedly being considered rabid. 


When the film isn’t pandering to children who will laugh at anything silly—this includes the supposedly funny antics with the neighbor’s visiting nephew William (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth), who suffers from hysterical blindness due to stress—“Flora & Ulysses” manages to be a little sweet rather than outright cloying. Through comic-panel illustrations and imaginary caped heroes in the mind of superhero fan Flora, there is a reverence for comic books that director Khan carries through the story in Flora finding hope and losing her cynical outlook. Besides Ulysses being the savior that helps bring Flora's parents back together, the squirrel's powers seem to get him in trouble more often than not. Low-stakes without the fate of the world hanging in the balance is refreshing, even when conflict is still pretty minimal. The animal-control shtick is strained at best, and poor Danny Pudi gets to play a sort-of villain, a human punching bag, and cat scratch post all rolled into one. Expect plenty of physical comedy involving tranquilizers, run-ins with a feral CG cat, and brushes with death during a car chase. 


Matilda Lawler is certainly the most appealing here, bringing an emotional availability to Flora. Even if she says, “Holy Bagumba!” thrice too many like one of those adorably precocious children that only exist in the movies, Lawler is too delightful to be annoying. Of the adult characters, Alyson Hannigan actually gets to the heart of Phyllis, who’s in a rut professionally and romantically. The supporting cast is filled with the likes of Bobby Moynihan, as comic-book store clerk Stanlee (get it?); Kate Micucci, as a donut diner waitress who’s “attacked” by Ulysses; Anna Deavere Smith, wonderful but oddly used as the sage Dr. Meescham; and Janeane Garofalo, who curiously stops in for two minutes without anything funny or interesting to do, never to return again, as Phyllis’ editor. “Flora & Ulysses” is a cute time-filler that has its simple charms—Flora’s family’s doorbell, in need of fixing, is the John Williams’ “Imperial March”—but when there are so many quality family films out there, one can do better than “tolerable” or “harmless.”


Grade: C


Disney released “Flora & Ulysses” (95 min.) on Disney+ February 19, 2021.

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