#JustaQuickiePlease: Pete's Dragon (2016) Review

Yet another one of Disney's "mad dashes to the cash" in the form of a live-action reboot.  Unlike the others, however, this is actually a 2016 live action reboot of a 1977 live action film, so there's that. The original was a charming, innovative musical, being one of the first feature-length movies to truly explore an extensive amount of animation mixed in with a stellar cast for the time.  This outing replaces that animation with CGI but leaves out all of the flourish and fun of its 70's predecessor. Instead, this incarnation attempts to create a more authentic story, about love, loss, and family that is entertaining but far too predictable, and at some points, stale and even sappy.   However, with that said, the cinematography is stunning, and the effects utilized to bring Elliot the Dragon to life, are both remarkable and believable.   Newcomer Oakes Fegley steals the show, and his performance is convincing and engaging.  The remainder of the cast, mostly current and former A-Listers, is good, not great, but still able to compliment Fegley's orphaned Pete.   My recommendation, watch and enjoy this fare but give the kids a treat and rent or stream the 1977 Disney classic.  You won't regret it. 3 out of 5 Kernels: A little dark for some young ones, with some tough subject matter and a few scary moments, but overall a pleasant fantasy for most of the family.