{Brag Worthy Christmas} My Review of THE STAR ~ #TheStarMovie NOW PLAYING in Theaters!

I was invited on an all expenses paid trip to LA to cover #TheStarMovie junket. All opinions are my own.

Bo (Steven Yuen) and Dave (Keegan-Michael Key) in Sony Pictures Animation’s THE STAR.

I had so much fun in LA for The Star movie junket. While I was there I got to screen the movie early and I got to sit down with some of the incredible talent from the film (Be sure to read my interview with the talent from The Star Movie if you haven’t already).

“In Sony Pictures Animation’s The Star, a small but brave donkey named Bo yearns for a life beyond his daily grind at the village mill. One day he finds the courage to break free, and finally goes on the adventure of his dreams. On his journey, he teams up with Ruth, a loveable sheep who has lost her flock and Dave, a dove with lofty aspirations. Along with three wisecracking camels and some eccentric stable animals, Bo and his new friends follow the Star and become accidental heroes in the greatest story ever told – the first Christmas.”-Sony

My overall reaction to this movie was that FINALLY a nativity story was told in a very entertaining way. Not that the nativity story itself is boring, it isn’t. But I feel like it has been told so many times and we have all seen it. So this new perspective, from the animals point of view, mainly Bo the Donkey, is such a refreshing take on a classic tale. I feel it was done very well, there is action, comedy, and it keeps the audience entertained, all while staying faithful to the message of baby Jesus’ birth. I think kids and families are going to love this movie and it will become a classic Christmas movie families will watch year after year.

The voice cast is fantastic. Steven Yeun as Bo the Donkey and Keegan-Michael Key as Dave the Dove keep the movie fun and do a great job. I love Gina Rodriguez and Zachary Levi as Mary and Joseph, their voices are perfect for those parts. Oprah Winfrey, Tracy Morgan, and Tyler Perry voice 3 camels (that the 3 wise men ride) and they are absolutely hilarious. Aidy Bryant is fabulous as Ruth the Sheep, so adorable and fun (I love her on SNL). There are a lot of other really talented cast members and I feel they all come together to make an enjoyable movie.

The message of the film is, of course, that greatness isn’t always what it seems. You get that from Bo the Donkey realizing he did something incredible without knowing it, and of course, there is the obvious undertone of the humble birth of the baby Jesus.