The Jessie Movie is a 2021 American computer animated adventure film produced by Olaramore04 Productions and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. Directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff from a screenplay penned by Joe Ansolabehere, Paul Germain, Bob Hilgenberg, and Rob Muir, it is olaramore04's second theatrical film after Disney In The House and the first olaramore04 film to be completely animated. The film stars Joan Cusack, Josh Gad, Danny DeVito, Lupita Nyong'o, Christopher McDonald, and James Cromwell.
| The Jessie Movie | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Roger Allers Rob Minkoff |
| Produced by | Owen Laramore Roger Allers Rob Minkoff |
| Screenplay by | Joe Ansolabehere Paul Germain Bob Hilgenberg Rob Muir |
| Story by | Owen Laramore Roger Allers Rob Minkoff |
| Starring | Joan Cusack Josh Gad Danny DeVito Lupita Nyong'o Christopher McDonald James Cromwell |
| Music by | Mark Mothersbaugh |
| Edited by | Margaret Hou |
| Production companies | Walt Disney Pictures Olaramore04 Productions |
| Distributed by | Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures |
| Release date | July 25, 2021 (United States and Australia) |
| Running time | 86 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $90 million |
| Box office | $444 million |
The Jessie Movie was released theatrically in the United States on July 25, 2021, to critical acclaim for its story, humor, animation, musical score, and voice acting. It was also commercially successful, earning $444 million worldwide on a $90 million budget. The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, but lost to DreamWorks' The Lego Worlds Movie.
Plot
One year after the events of Toy Story 3, Jessie, one of Bonnie's toys, gets tired of her claustrophobia. In the toys' "The Fierce Dinosaur" play, the role of the person being afraid further upset Jessie, and she leaves, assuming all the toys know is fear. Jessie is subsequently swept away by a portal that leads her to a wonderland full of different kinds of toys. There, she befriends a group of five chinstrap penguins and receives the Wonderland Scroll. One of the penguins, Jeremy, introduces Jessie to the guru, Fameface.
Fameface disapproves of Jessie and argues with her over the safety of the wonderland. He lets Jessie and the penguins go on a fictional hunting expedition, which is actually a trap to lure Jessie to the hands of a white tiger. Unable to defeat Jessie, White Tiger reveals he was deceived into attacking her and accompanies her and the penguins in order to make amends for the mistake.
Moved by Jessie's motives, a warrior named Olivia and her anthropomorphic rhinoceros warrior companion Hero Rhino offer for Jessie, White Tiger, and the penguins to help them plan an ambush on the one plotting to destroy the wonderland.. Seeing this as her chance to be brave, Jessie agrees. After stealing a baby Pteranodon, they come across a forming river of lava. Jessie rescues everyone before falling into the lava and narrowly escaping. Jessie has a nightmare where her friends were so old. Fameface gives Jessie the Scroll of Bravery, but it reveals nothing but a gold reflective surface. Jessie is told to evacuate by Fameface, and walks off distraught. Jeremy tells her that being brave means there's nothing a cowgirl like Jessie can't do. Realizing this is the true message of the scroll and that Fameface is the real criminal, Jessie goes to confront him.
Worried about Jessie, Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Rex, Slinky Dog, and Hamm approach the wonderland to find her. When they spot her, they think her new comrades are kidnapping her and capture them. Jessie orders them to stop and confesses that she is brave, like a cowgirl should be. Touched, the toys free Jessie's new comrades, and Jessie reconciles with them. The mother arrives and reunites with her baby. Fameface attacks Jessie, but his crimes are exposed by Jeremy. The wonderland penguins reject Fameface, Jessie becomes a formidable challenge for Fameface as they fight for the scroll. Fameface momentarily beats Jessie and grabs the scroll, but is unable to understand it and continues attacking Jessie.
With Fameface defeated, Jeremy replaces him as the guru, and Jessie waves goodbye to her new friends. Jessie, Woody, Buzz, Rex, Slinky, and Hamm head home and resume "The Fierce Dinosaur". Instead of lashing out, Jessie participates in the play with a newfound appreciation for bravery.
Cast
- Joan Cusack as Jessie, a yodeling cowgirl doll.
- The Chinstrap Amigos:
- Josh Gad as Jeremy, the leader of the Chinstrap Amigos.
- Jonah Hill as Kendall, a member of the Chinstrap Amigos.
- Jon Hamm as Alvin, a member of the Chinstrap Amigos.
- Jon Heder as Chris, a member of the Chinstrap Amigos.
- Dee Bradley Baker as Rick, a member of the Chinstrap Penguins.
- Danny DeVito as White Tiger, a white Bengal tiger with a Brooklyn accent.
- Lupita Nyong'o as Olivia, a warrior who is planning an ambush on Fameface.
- Christopher McDonald as Hero Rhino, an anthropomorphic rhinoceros warrior and Olivia's companion.
- James Cromwell as Fameface, a villainous, elderly, and duplicitous Chinstrap penguin and the guru.
- Jim Hanks as Woody
- Christopher Corey Smith as Buzz Lightyear
- Ray Winstone as Mr. Potato Head
- Estelle Harris as Mrs. Potato Head
- Wallace Shawn as Rex
- John Ratzenberger as Hamm
- Blake Clark as Slinky Dog
- Dee Bradley Baker as Aliens
- Bonnie Hunt as Dolly
- Kristen Schaal as Trixie
- Timothy Dalton as Mr. Pickiepants
- Jeff Garlin as Buttercup
Reception
Box office
The film opened on July 25, 2021, and grossed $175 million in its opening weekend. It ended its theatrical run on October 20, 2021, grossing $449 million worldwide, produced on a $90 million budget, the film was a commercial success.
Critical response
The Jessie Movie has a 96% approval rating on the website Rotten Tomatoes. The consensus reads, "With a heartfelt storyline, gorgeous animation, good humor, and a outstanding voice cast, The Jessie Movie is yet another olaramore04 classic". Metacritic signed the film to a score of 90 out of 100 based on 45 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film a grade of "A+" on an A+ to F scale.
Jennie Punter of The Globe And Mail gave the film a positive review, saying, "The story given to Owen Laramore, Roger Allers, and Rob Minkoff by a little girl holding a Jessie doll really works out as a fine--if dramatic--storyline". Richard Roeper of Chicago Sun Times praised the film as "entertaining", praising the performance of Joan Cusack as Jessie.