Luca (2021)
A young boy experiences an unforgettable seaside summer on the Italian Riviera filled with gelato, pasta, and endless scooter rides. Luca shares these adventures with his newfound best friend, but all the fun is threatened by a deeply-held secret: he is a sea monster from another world just below the ocean's surface.
Cast and Information
Directed By: Enrico Casarosa
Written By: Mike Jones, Jesse Andrews
Starring: Jim Gaffigan, Maya Rudolph, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jacob Tremblay, Peter Sohn, Sandy Martin, Marina Massironi, Jack Dylan Grazer, Emma Berman, Saverio Raimondo, Marco Barricelli, Lorenzo Crisci
Genres: Comedy, Family/Kids, Adventure, Animation
Country: USA
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Luca belongs to 7 collections
1. Feature Length Pixar Films (collaborative: moderated by pupetman64 - 17 stars)
2. Extra scene after credits (collaborative: moderated by djross - 7 stars)
3. Oscar Nominated Feature Films 2022 (collaborative: moderated by Corbad - 3 stars)
4. Academy Award Nominees for Best Animated Feature (public: gcat - 2 stars)
5. Pixar (collaborative: moderated by donmezsefa)
6. My Movie Collection (public: elhenzo)
7. Giltiga 2021-filmer (public: caffe)
Browse the full list of collections
| Stars | User | Rating | |
| 13 |  |
BeeDub | 88 75th |
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Simple and charming in the best way, much like Ghibli's more slice-of-life pics. Italy should send Pixar a big fruit basket for all the tourism this will generate.
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| 9 |  |
Leonardis | 87 55th |
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I liked it. The film will more than likely suffer from comparison to Pixar's best works and everything else this may be inspired from (think Hayao Miyazaki or The Little Mermaid), but I thought it was pretty well executed for the most part. It's gorgeously animated and filmed and the voice work is very good. The lesser characters are fairly amusing too. It's lower tier Pixar, but lower tier Pixar is still good in my opinion. This is very heartfelt and important viewing for kids too.
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| 7 |  |
goremeat | 70 58th |
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Taking riffs from Miyazaki (Porco Rosso/Ponyo) Luca brings a Disney-Pixar standard to Leguria. Swathed in orange & blue, the vibrant visuals color a predictable plot, but with little quirks. Yes, it's about friendship, but more specifically it's about a friend with a little more worldly knowledge enjoying the mentor role; only then for that to fall apart, and the friendship having to evolve to fit a bigger world. Good, but quite standard. GF cried at the end.
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| 5 |  |
amazedemon | 67 75th |
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From little moments to the overall concept, Luca is remarkably cute. Above all else the film is about friendship with a minor theme about exploring the unknown, and at times this makes the film feel a little simplistic. Nevertheless, everything is done well throughout, as we’ve generally come to expect from Pixar. The voice acting is fine, though the accent work feels a little forced at times. The animation is good, though nothing really stood out as boundary-pushing. Good, but not top tier.
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| 4 |  |
Obdurate | 80 66th |
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Luca isn't among Pixar's best but it's still Pixar and they almost never miss. The middle portion left me a little colder than I would have liked but the bookends are quality. Still has the really emotional part at the end that Pixar is known for, animation is still great even if it doesn't deviate from the Pixar norm. Some funny parts too.
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| 4 |  |
ADragon91 | 50 33rd |
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Weak tier Pixar for me. There's nothing outright bad about Luca, but at this point Pixar are doing the same shit I've seen over and over again from them at this point and it just kind of makes the movie a bit forgettable for me. It literally plays out a "Fish Out of Water" story using Italy as its main selling point with a sea monster gimmick, but the plot plays out with zero surprises and the characters are simple and bland. It looks and sounds great, but I expected more from Pixar.
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| 4 |  |
mattorama12 | 72 68th |
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Pixar has set such a high bar for itself that a wonderful movie like Luca somehow feels a bit disappointing. It's got lovely characters and first rate animation, and it really makes the most of its Italian seaside setting.
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| 4 |  |
Jerky | 80 96th |
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The best coming of age films are the ones that are able to balance both heart and humour, and this does that very well. A simple tale of friendship and acceptance that will hit you right in the feels.
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| 4 |  |
KasperL | 70 65th |
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Skews a bit younger than most Pixar films, but as always, it's a pleasant watch. I saw it again with my daughter who's almost two, and she was pretty captivated by it.
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| 4 |  |
terrymac | 65 47th |
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Charming, and fun, but perhaps lacking the cross-generational appeal that Ghibli (a clear influence) or Pixar films themselves usually have. The kids liked it. I wanted to go to the Italian coast and eat things.
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| 3 |  |
Quintonjamin | 60 51st |
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Made extremely well, looks awesome, and had some good laughs. I'm probably rating it worse than it deserves just because I've come to expect so much from Pixar. The biggest weakness for me was that it didn't hit as hard emotionally as pretty much all other Pixar films have.
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| 3 |  |
aross | 80 81st |
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I thought it was great as expected. Aside from the attempted tear harvesting sequence that Pixar is usually much better with.
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| 3 |  |
AnnieHall | 85 70th |
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One of the things that is certain in the world is that everything Pixar does is beautiful. Yes, not one of Pixar's best, but Luca is fine too. In this movie, Enrico Casarosa takes us to the beaches of Italy, and we observe the efforts of two young fish -probably sweet couples-, Luca and Alberto, to hold on to life. We stand by them and support them throughout the movie. But apart from Luca, Alberto was my favorite character. I totally understand how he feels. Pixar, you did it again man. Fun
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| 3 |  |
Okkervil | 75 75th |
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Feels intimate and refreshingly small scale. It’s a well trodden story, but executed with aplomb and style. ‘Luca’ isn’t quite Pixar at their most innovative, but it’s a treat nonetheless.
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| 3 |  |
Luna6ix | 75 52nd |
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"Luca" is easily the weakest of the last three Pixar movies. It doesn't have the same kind of power as the universal themes of "Soul" (mortality and life fulfillment) or "Onward" (family relationships and mourning). This one is about being yourself, a message found in Mister Roger's neighborhood, and while admirable, it's something far too pedestrian to focus on unless your audience is toddlers.
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| 2 | redcricket | 65 28th |
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Decent light-hearted film.
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| 2 | PUNQ | 60 89th |
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Easy-going and uncomplicated sea creature story well suited for the current summer vibes. Not enough Italian stereotypes. I was missing a proper Luigi pizza guy. Actually, where was the pizza in this? Too much pasta! But we did get a lovely "Santa Mozzarella" expression in there!
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| 2 |  |
bitz_2008 | 74 51st |
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It's Ghibli by way of Pixar. I much prefer the charms of Miyazaki and co., but this does have a lot of good going for it.
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| 2 |  |
maddog | 80 65th |
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It borrows a few elements too closely from Little Mermaid and Lion King, it's clunky in its rule of how to deal with being wet and transformation, its character animation is underwhelmingly simplified for Pixar... and it has obvious metaphors to lack of acceptance that accompanies falling into a taboo 'just who you are' group. It 180s on the villain and the hatred/fear far too quickly. Even with all that... there's something about Luca that was delightful about his self-discovery.
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| 2 |  |
Filligan | 91 82nd |
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Most will regard this as lower tier Pixar, but for me it cracked the top 5. Admittedly it starts quite tropey, but it rapidly improves from there, full of laughs and gorgeous animation and charming character work and, yes, even a couple tears by the end. As a riff on Miyazaki and a parable for kids who feel isolated because they haven't found their circle of "good ones" yet, this just struck me deep at home over and over and I adored it.
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| 2 |  |
Fuentissimo | 40 36th |
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Great on the visuals! The story is not great, a bit disjointed. Lacked any strong theme, and wasn't sure I agreed with the conclusion. Everyone suddenly changes their perspective at the end when there is no real motive. There is no real moment of forgiveness between friends or justification for the town's 180 unless you accept that "good" people will just "come around." But even then, what makes a good story? It felt like the happy ending was just slapped on there to save time.
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| 2 |  |
Ytadel | 7 83rd |
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Con: Bean-faced, bean-mouth characters that pretty much look like a 3D take on the CalArts style that has largely blighted American cartoons. Pros: Lovely seaside village settings reminiscent of Ghibli flicks like Kiki and Poppy Hill, nice emotional story with modest but moving stakes, trim runtime that doesn’t exhaust one’s patience.
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| 1 |  |
JLFM | 76 70th |
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I laughed consistently and I really was enraptured by the visuals. The performances by the kid trio are excellent - some of the best Pixar voicework in years, really - and I found their characters incredibly likable and fun to be around. I think this is still in the lower third of the Pixar filmography, for what that's worth, which means Luca will have to settle for being just charming, funny, and very sweet.
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| 1 | tubasaxt | 95 93rd |
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I might have given this one a 100, except the first 20 minutes or so is practically a retelling of The Little Mermaid. Beautiful to look at, great voice acting, heartwarming story. Standard Pixar stuff.
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| 1 |  |
H2LOL | 70 52nd |
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a Good middle, but slow and "cringe" start, and a pretty awful ending, but is still fun, it isn't thought provoking or wonderfully brilliant as other Pixar films, but in some way feels like a over the hedge, it wasn't amazing but it wasn't trying to be, it was more of a appetizer for a much bigger project, and i already know that there is a really good Pixar film coming up i can smell it
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| 1 |  |
hotsake | 86 97th |
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I loved this, flaws and all.
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| 1 |  |
LennyNero | 75 71st |
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Starts out bad, but Pixar gets the curve towards the second half and it's your usual classy emotional Pixar movie.
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| 1 | myfavchords | 76 54th |
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This is a fun animated movie. The voice cast seem to be having a good time with their roles here. The script has some funny moments. Overall I would recommend this movie.
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| 1 |  |
WalterMitty | 82 73rd |
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What can i say? I saw myself ALOT in Luca's character: not only because i grew up in a rural village near Como like Portorosso but also for his will to have true friends and discover what's outside of his everyday life. Animated beautifully and channeling real emotions. I still have to admit that narratively speaking is quite flat though: my mark is inflated because my italian childhood vibes are blurring my objectivity
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| 1 |  |
KeyUtkan | 78 86th |
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The visuals are amazing, the characters are loveable, the stylistic tone for Mediterrane Europe was spot on. And color grading was just amazing. But the ending was too rushed and not believable. We were worrying about our little fish guys if anybody learns their secrets but after all at the very moment that everybody learned. It just magically turned out well. W/o any building up to the moment. Great premise, nice conflict between friends, and great characterization. But all washed off ...
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| 1 |  |
FoxyRussian | 89 72nd |
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Luca is different from current era Pixar. More of a laid back vibe and low stakes story than a movie designed to make you cry and feel sadness with the additional emotions being a range of sadness. Luca is just a feel good vibe. It's laid back and the first act definitely feels like it kind of meanders cause of it. Once red headed Giulia joins the boys, the movie hits its stride and is just a cute sweet vibe with a world I wanted to live in. Or I guess just visit since it's actually Italy.
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| 1 |  |
nobamba | 60 61st |
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It is Miyazaki-like in the sense that I've seen characters pedal a bike in a seaside town before. Same with the Aquaman Mediterranean seaside town attack scene. I wish this explored more conflict with the love triangle between the kids. Beautiful graphics as always. Fav scene: final bike race going downhill on cobblestone streets in a historic seaside town. Seaside town.
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| 1 |  |
psim | 79 68th |
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By keeping the plot refreshingly simple and low-stakes, Luca allows its audience to immerse itself in the characters, their relationships, and the Mediterranean setting and mood. One of my favorites from Pixar.
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| 1 |  |
FrederikA | 75 77th |
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There's something wonderfully refreshing about a through-and-through charming kid's movie with so small stakes. I don't even think there's a single dead parent in this one... which I though was mandatory for Disney films these days.
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| 1 |  |
magdabag | 86 62nd |
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Call me by your fin and I'll call you my by mine.
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| 1 | Lonewolf2003 | 80 79th |
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This hits its beats of its extremely cute and sweet, simple story almost perfectly. It has a lovely meandering atmosphere of an Italian summer. The animation while gorgeous is simpler, more cartoony than other modern Pixar movies, but suits the content. It's Ghibli meets "“Call Me by Your Name" by Pixar.
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| 1 |  |
glumpy_99 | 80 60th |
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Fun Pixar effort does not attempt to reinvent the wheel arguably to its benefit - this is a simple, straightforward and unthreatening coming of age story, set against a stunning scenic backdrop (animated or not), that ticks the requisite boxes and leaves you with a smile on your face. It's lack of ambition (and ultimate lack of resonance) will likely mean it won't linger in the memory, but as an inconsequential throwaway, it's good, light hearted fun.
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| 1 |  |
Mentaculus | 73 59th |
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A film I compare to Ghibli’s Only Yesterday, which is actually a high compliment. This is like the quiet, back-of-the-classroom kids who see everything, know more than they say, and are more genuine when they speak than their brash, front-row playmates. This feels like Pixar’s exhale - a welcome retreat to simple pleasures and simple morals. Ride a bike. Trust yourself. Achieve wonders.
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| 1 |  |
martryn | 77 69th |
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It's an interesting setting. Film does show more so than tell, and I appreciate that. It's not Toy Story or Up, but it is solid Pixar story-telling.
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| Average Percentile 54.9% from 840 Ratings |  |