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Rebellious (PG)

Cast: Dan Edwards, Brian Kim, Alyson Leigh Rosenfeld, Vanessa Johansson, Pete Zarustica
Genre: Family
Author(s): Jeffery Spencer, Analisa LaBianco
Director: Alex Tsitsilin
Release Date: 25/10/2024
Running Time: 94mins
Country: UK/Cyp
Year: 2024

Headstrong and outspoken Princess Mina has been raised by her father on superstitious tales of an evil sorcerer named Kezabor, whose terrifying dragon snatches unmarried girls of royal heritage from their chambers. On her wedding day to bookworm best friend Ronan, the dragon materialises to spirit Mina away. The King promises his daughter's hand to her rescuer and three rival suitors race against Ronan to liberate Mina and earn the keys to the kingdom in return.


LondonNet Film Review

Rebellious (PG) Film Review from LondonNet

The pen is mightier than an enchanted sword in the fantastical computer-animated adventure Rebellious. Subtitled Mission Royal Rescue, the latest wholesome yarn from filmmaker Alex Tsitsilin, director of the Frozen-lite Snow Queen franchise, elevates a sensitive young man with a passion for reading to a swashbuckling saviour of kidnapped princesses by virtue of his knowledge of the laws of physics. “I read about them in my architecture books,” proudly beams the dreamboat to an accomplice as he applies mathematical theories to the construction of a catapult to target the weak spot of a dam and flood an arid valley…

Animated Disney princesses have been a clear influence on Tsitsilin’s earlier work and the inspiration continues here. Culturally diverse damsels abducted in an opening storybook montage are modelled on Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White and other protagonists bear striking resemblances to Jasmine from Aladdin and Tiger Lily from Peter Pan. A facially expressive white horse, ridden by the bookworm beau, shares a stable with Maximus from Tangled.

Scriptwriters Analisa LaBianco and Jeffery Spencer insist on spelling out characters’ internal thoughts and every pedestrian step of the plot in expository dialogue. Thus, the strapping bibliophile loudly voices his distress about being separated from his unnaturally small-waisted fiancee (“Losing the girl you love to a maniacal sorcerer is a fate worse than death!”) and the same hunk remarks aloud on the resilience of Mother Nature as lush green flora visibly sprouts around him.

Headstrong and outspoken Princess Mina (voiced by Alyson Leigh Rosenfeld) has been raised by her father, the King (David Wills), on superstitious tales of an evil sorcerer named Kezabor (Pete Zarustica), whose terrifying dragon snatches unmarried girls of royal heritage from their chambers. Mina has little time for folklore or outdated patriarchal traditions such as her father choosing her a husband from three potential suitors, Rogdai (Matt Giroveanu), Kabir (Anthony Sardinha) and Fa Chan (Brian Kim).

“I want to lead the kingdom and be with the man I love,” coos the princess shortly before she accepts a bungled marriage proposal from bookworm best friend Ronan (Dan Edwards). The King ultimately gives his blessing to their nuptials but Kezabor’s dragon Nahina (Vanessa Johansson) materialises on the wedding day to spirit Mina away. The King promises his daughter’s hand to her rescuer and the three suitors mount trusty steeds while Ronan heads on foot into the Impassable Forest.

Contrary to its title, Rebellious politely submits to fairy tale conventions and follows the recent trend of spirited princesses, who problem-solve their own salvation rather than waiting for a dashing prince. Visuals are richer and more detailed than the linear storytelling, which leaves nothing to personal interpretation or inference. Tsitsilin’s picture delivers a moderately happy ever after.

– Sarah Lee


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