Synopsis: From the delightfully wicked minds of Henry Selick and producer Jordan Peele, comes Wendell & Wild, an animated tale about scheming demon brothers Wendell (Keegan-Michael Key) and Wild (Peele) – who enlist the aid of Kat Elliot – a tough teen with a load of guilt – to summon them to the Land of the Living. But what Kat demands in return leads to a brilliantly bizarre and comedic adventure like no other, an animated fantasy that defies the law of life and death, all told through the handmade artistry of stop motion.

Traumatic events can and will change your life forever. Whether it’s how you perceive life going forward, how you interact with others, what you deem important, or what you lend your time to, a monumental change is guaranteed. It’s especially true when it happens at a young age. It can thoroughly alter the trajectory of your life’s path. If ignored or untreated, it can have negative and adverse effects on you and those around you. If confronted and handled, the trauma can be used as a tool for teaching, loving, and building a better future. With that said, it’s up to you to decide how you’re going to react and handle your trauma.

“Greetings Hell Maiden.”

When you’ve lost everything and everyone, you’d probably do anything to get even the smallest fraction of that old life back. If a pair of demons offered you that chance, would you take it? Directed by Henry Selick and written by Selick along with Jordan Peele, Wendell & Wild is a wildly entrancing Afropunk-infused roller coaster drop into the fantastical. It’s beautifully crafted, has something to say, has a good balance of light and dark, and features a great cast. Unfortunately, with too much to say and not enough time, the story, righteous or not, is a tad overstuffed like when you visit your grandmother and she feeds you even though you have already eaten — it meant well. The result is a film that loses focus as it attempts to run a marathon when the race is a sprint. Nonetheless, it’s so incredibly aesthetically satisfying that you can’t look away.

”Bad things happen to people I’m close to.”

The film’s greatest attribute is also what garners most of the attention, its characters. The characters are diverse in many ways, but it’s the personality types that truly stand out. Some you immediately love, others are easy to hate, while others you have to wait until the story unfolds to make your final decision. As the story revolves around trauma and mischief, it touches on other serious topics such as corruption, privately owned prisons, the school-to-prison pipeline, and the industrial prison complex. All are very real issues that are explored through its variety of personas and rich color palette. Even with all of its seriousness and talk of Hell Maidens and demons, the tale isn’t all grim. It also features some touching and heartfelt moments and quite a bit of humor. It is shot incredibly well, the music is as take-charge and rebellious as our protagonist, Kat, and again, it looks stunning. It had the potential to be a new classic, but it falls just short of very good. Its rewatchability is medium.

WENDELL & WILD – (L-R) Wendell (voiced by Keegan-Michael Key) and Wild (voiced by Jordan Peele). Cr: Netflix © 2022

Pacing & Pop

The story’s pacing is consistently at a medium tempo throughout most of the film. It takes enough time to delve into its characters, subplots, and themes, however, it takes on a bit too much and eventually feels rushed toward its conclusion. What popped for me is how stunning the film looks. The craftsmanship and attention to detail are truly awe-inspiring and look even better on a big screen.

WENDELL & WILD – (L-R) Sister Helley (voiced by Angela Bassett) and Kat (voiced by Lyric Ross). Cr: Netflix © 2022

Characters & Chemistry

Starring: Jordan Peele (Wild), Keegan-Michael Key (Wendell), Angela Bassett (Sister Helley), Lyric Ross (Kat Elliot), Ving Rhames (Buffalo Belzer), Sam Zelaya (Raúl Cocolotl)

While the playful nature and banter of Wendell and Wild are amusing, there lies some confusion as to how we are supposed to perceive their personalities and motives. Are they simply mischievous demons with somewhat innocent intentions rather than evil ones? And are they supposed to be complete buffoons or just heckish goofballs? It may seem obvious, but their actions tend to contradict each other as they begin to carry out a multifaceted and elaborate plan while also consuming large amounts of hair cream. But perhaps the fun is in determining that for yourself. Nevertheless, it was a joyous experience hearing and essentially seeing our favorite comedic duo Key and Peele back together. The real star of the film is the rebellious, tough, brash, and traumatized Kat Elliot voiced by Lyric Ross. Her journey is not only a relatable one but the way she approaches life after disaster makes her story interesting.

Wendell & Wild premieres on Netflix on October 28, 2022. Stay safe and enjoy.