Forgotten Island (PG)
Directed by: Joel Crawford and Januel P. Mercado
Starring: H.E.R., Liza Soberano
Review by: Julian Wright
Buckle in for a colourful ride into a fantasy world with two besties and a collection of quirky sidekicks in Forgotten Island.
Set in the Philippines in the 1990s, Forgotten Island centres on two young girls who don’t have any friends of their own that find each other and become lifelong, inseparable BFFs.
Jo (H.E.R.) is the outgoing one that gets them both into a bit of trouble, while Raissa (Liza Soberano) is the studious one along for the adventures.
When they reach their teens, Raissa is getting ready to move to the USA for college, a move that may break her bond with Jo.
The night before she is set to board a plane to college, Jo drags her out of the house for one last adventure and the two are magically teleported to Nakali, a forgotten island in another world.
Waking up 12 hours later with no memory of their night, just a few polaroid pictures of their adventures, the two must retrace their steps to find the item that can get them back home in time for Raissa to catch her flight.
Forgotten Island is inspired by a few other movies, including The Wizard of Oz, but most amusingly, The Hangover, ensuring that parents can get a few chuckles along the way.
This is a high energy rollercoaster adventure that is told with vibrant animation, and some beautiful anime imagery woven in, that proves girls can have hi-octane adventures too, while exploring the strength and importance of female bonds and chosen family.
The characters, including the quirky island residents they meet along the way, are loveable and endearing, and each voiced by a game cast member.
Forgotten Island is not a bad place to be stranded for a couple of hours with the kids.
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