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SALT LAKE CITY — Films like “Turbo” are difficult to write about because you walk out of the theater feeling exactly the same way you did going in. There’s nothing in a film this generic worth sharing with friends, and there isn’t anything so offensive that you feel compelled to warn people about it either.
So, when looking at this week’s lazy offering parading around as family entertainment, there are three things you may want to consider before paying full price at your local theater.
The formula
“Turbo” is about as straightforward as a movie can be. There is this snail that really wants to go fast, and one day he gets his chance. Beyond that sentence, everything is just filler, which means it’s going to divide moviegoers into two groups.
The first group, just because of the film’s marketing, already knows the climactic moment the entire film is building up to. And if you fall into that group, “Turbo” will feel like a two-hour office meeting you were called into at the last minute only to find out you weren’t actually needed but now you’re stuck in a position where it’s too uncomfortable to get up and excuse yourself. Every minute of “Turbo” you don’t scream out, “Please, mighty Thor make it stop,” will be a small victory you can later pat yourself on the back for.
The second group, the group that has a gift for not over-thinking things especially when sitting down to enjoy a film, may be able to write off “Turbo” as a harmless, colorful kid’s movie. If you’re in this group, you won’t love “Turbo,” and your kids won’t be blown away by it, but it will get you out of the current heat wave for 90 minutes, and that’s kind of a small victory for everyone.
But at the end of the day, just know you’ve seen “Turbo,” and you’ve seen it often. This is a repackaged story with overused themes and painfully familiar characters.
The characters
The creators of "Turbo" did an excellent job pointing out just how unattached you should feel while visiting this particular snail population. Occasionally, throughout the story, a bird will sweep down and grab a fellow snail friend for what will inevitably be his horrific demise. Your response, if you can find the will to evoke one, is either to giggle or wonder who’s going to take over the missing snail’s chores for the day.
The problem arises when you realize, even if a bird swiped one of the main characters, the story could probably move on without them. And yes, that stands for Turbo as well.
The team behind “Turbo” appear lazy enough to think by simply creating a character who dreams of something greater will be enough to make audiences connect with him. Unfortunately, Turbo dreaming that one day he can race the Indy 5000 is about as compelling as a character really, really wanting a million dollars.
The child factor
If you’re an adult who genuinely loves animation, and you’re looking for the next “The Incredibles” or “How to Train your Dragon,” “Turbo” will be a major disappointment. But if we’re asking the question, “Will my kids enjoy it?” and you’re able to endure anything for the sake of your children’s happiness, then the next question to probably ask is, “Am I willing to endure anything for my child being mildly entertained?”
“Turbo” will not be a knockout, even for kids generally happy with anything bright and colorful. With the 3D glasses, “Turbo” is a dark and washed-out film. When removing my glasses, I still found the sets to be pretty lifeless.
There are moments wrapped into the story that are fast-paced and beautifully rendered, but when considered as an entire film, “Turbo” would probably be better enjoyed as a Redbox grab or possibly a stocking stuffer later this year. Travis has been writing tech and film reviews for Deseret News and KSL.com since 2010, and continues to contribute coverage for the film festivals and other live events in Utah. You can contact Travis at tspoppleton@gmail.com.
