Forgotten Island

What if The Hangover met high-concept anime, wrapped inside a stunning love letter to Filipino folklore? Forgotten Island answers that question

Synopsis

Two lifelong best friends find their way on to the mythical island of Nakali with total amnesia. Instantly, they must piece together their wild night out before losing their precious memories forever.

Cast and Performances

H.E.R., Liza Soberano, and Dave Franco deliver truly fantastic performances here. Immediately, their electric vocal chemistry brings these brilliant characters to life.

However, my absolute standout character was Mermahn. Honestly, bro’s animated nipples genuinely had a life of their own, creating pure comedy gold.

Production

Visually, the animation is easily some of the best I have seen recently. DreamWorks absolutely cooked with this masterpiece.

Crucially, the studio seamlessly moulded different artistic styles together into one stunning spectacle. You quickly spot a deep-rooted anime presence that pays heavy homage to legendary creators.

Furthermore, the vibrant palette stays bright and colourful without ever feeling overdone or aggressive. Consequently, every dynamic visual frame remains wonderfully easy on the eyes.

Meanwhile, the dynamic music soundtrack hits all the right emotional and comedic beats effortlessly.

The Review

Look, this might sound like a controversial opinion, but Forgotten Island is literally an animated Hangover. Essentially, the film becomes a wild hunt for memories because they cannot remember the previous chaotic night.

Naturally, we love to see an original story in a current movie landscape dominated by remakes and legacy sequels.

DreamWorks fully embraces Filipino culture, legends, and lore. In fact, I fully embraced the mythology and spent hours doing further research afterwards.

Furthermore, the character designs look incredible. Evidently, executives gave their animators complete artistic freedom to go as far as they wanted.

Underneath the chaos, the emotional themes feel deeply powerful for both kids and adults. Specifically, the narrative weaves friendship, forgiveness, and sacrifice alongside heavier themes like loss and grief seamlessly.

Ultimately, this relatable, heart-wrenching story of growing older and finding yourselves on different paths leaves a real sense of satisfaction.

Unquestionably, the main flaw centers on the chief villain, Manang. Her epic design felt genuinely creepy to the point where I questioned if my kids could handle it.

Regrettably, her climax came to nothing in the end. Honestly, I wish they just kept her as an terrifying, mysterious monster throughout.

Additionally, the pacing felt a bit messy at times. Frequently, side characters jump in and out of the story without warning.

Clearly, a few extra lines of dialogue could have developed their backgrounds far better.

Overall, this remains a phenomenal, insanely funny movie to watch with the whole family.

Does it have franchise potential? Absolutely, but this specific ending does not make a direct sequel easy.

Because the narrative wraps up so neatly, future films will require brand-new, younger characters to explore this wider world further.