Carl Roberts 
“With a good ecological message, a warning about climate change, and the rainforests, Ozi: Voice Of The Forest is an enjoyable tale for everyone.”
The upcoming animated family feature film, “Ozi: Voice Of The Forest” will be released in UK cinemas this Friday. The film features the voices of Amandla Stenberg, Dean-Charles Chapman, Urzila Carlson, and Laura Dern. Djimon Hounsou, Donald Sutherland, RuPaul Charles, and Hugh Bonneville. Leonardo Dicaprio and Mike Medavoy are the producers, which is an Appian Way & GC IFilm Production. Featuring animation by Mikros, the film also features the title song One Heart (Can Change The World). Written by Diane Warren and performed by Tiwa Savage.
PREMISE
Meet Ozi, a little orphan orangutan. Who’s about to make a big difference when she goes on an epic adventure to save her forest home.
Separated from her parents when their forest home is destroyed, Ozi is taken in by kind wildlife sanctuary owners. Who keep her safe and slowly teach her to communicate through sign language. With the combination of her new skills and natural talent for social media, Ozi soon has a worldwide following.
When she learns that her parents might be alive, Ozi sets off on a quest to find them. And to tell the world what is happening to the rainforest before it’s too late. With help from new friends, cheeky monkey Chance and loveable rhino Honkus, Ozi discovers that one voice really can change the world.
THOUGHTS
The film does a wonderful job of bringing serious issues to both children and adults in this family movie. It isn’t a case of humans being bad, and creatures being good, it goes deeper than that. By using the character of Ozi as a voice and a character to highlight these issues with the youngsters, it drives home its message for the next and future generations. Thankfully, it doesn’t need the medium of catchy songs to keep our attention. It manages to do it with a heartfelt, resonating story of love, loss, and fighting for what’s right. Of course, there are a few jokes which are childish that will make the audience laugh (a fart joke never fails), but it’s done in a subtle way and never diminishes the powerful message that lies behind the film and its story.
By the time the end credits roll around, the audience is presented with true facts about climate change and how they can help after the movie ends. A QR code appears during the end credits which does drag the film down unintentionally. It does lead you to a site where you can learn more about the events affecting our world and what we can do to help. But some people may get the feeling that the film is simply a commercial, entertainment that shows us something before putting its hand out and asking for donations.
If this was put at the end of the film’s credits, then it wouldn’t be a problem. Obviously, many people will have left the cinema by that point, negating the message. But by putting it right after the film’s colourful shenanigans end, the film can come across as demanding of us. By doing this, the message will get through. But it may leave a sour taste.
THE FILM
While the film is rich, colourful and entertaining, it doesn’t really show us anything that we haven’t seen before in animated movies. Though it contains a powerful and important message, it does suffer from familiarity in places. It really isn’t a spoiler to say that there are situations affecting the main characters by an evil one that, while they may worry young children, resolve themselves without any harm. It also isn’t a spoiler to say that by the end credits, no character in the movie is really hurt or is killed off. What we see is uplifting but leads to that sense of familiarity we get with other movies of this kind.
That’s not to say that the film isn’t good. It is a fun, clean, inoffensive story and tale that will have the younger viewers hooked to the screen. They will find themselves enthralled by the wonderful characters that appear, laugh in all the right places, and will leave the cinema extremely happy and wanting to watch it again. Adults will get a kick out of it with the superb vocal performances, none more so than the recently departed Donald Sutherland as the Albino Crocodile. It is all wrapped up in a nice bow that is perfect viewing for the school summer holidays.
VERDICT
With a good ecological message, a warning about climate change, and the rainforests, Ozi: Voice Of The Forest is an enjoyable tale for everyone. With strong vocal performances for all the characters. A sense of fun to go alongside the messages it contains and some heartwarming scenes. It is more than enough to keep the family entertained. While some aspects feel like they are being hammered home, the film doesn’t hit us too hard with the message it contains. It isn’t preachy, it’s just bringing the facts to us in a delightful and colourful way. Destined to be a hit in cinemas and on home entertainment, the film will become a favourite for youngsters in years to come. Recommended.
Ozi: Voice Of The Forest will be in UK cinemas on August 16th.
Introducing Carl! As the News Editor at Future of the Force, Carl has been an invaluable member of our team since early 2016. His expertise and dedication have made him an integral part of our editorial staff. Beyond his professional role, Carl is a fervent supporter of Liverpool F.C. and an avid follower of pop culture. He has a deep passion for Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the iconic movie franchises Star Wars and Star Trek.
He can be found either at his neighborhood cinema, enjoying the latest releases on the big screen, or at home streaming the newest blockbuster movies.
