LIKES:
The Voice Acting
The Design Is Cute
Powerful Messages
Funny At Times
Family Friendly
The Music
DISLIKES:
The Animation/Design Could Use Some Work
A Bit More Action Could Help
Some More Time With Characters
A Bit Preachy At Times
Some Jokes Are Bland/Too Much
The Ending Feels A Tad Rushed
Summary:
Angel Studios has passion in their projects, and they have done their best to indoctrinate the Holy Spirit into their work as they bring David's tale to life. A cute design that feels much like an animated Bible that kids read to get exposure, David has fluid animation and a cartoonish shimmer that is very colorful and inviting for eager young eyes, with all the cute ways they emote the citizens. Such designs accomplish the goal of making this film funny; cute little quips and one-liners are mixed with slapstick that had the little ones laughing in my showing. But it's not all fun and games either, for David's tale is plagued with challenges, obstacles, and hindrances that are ready to test our audience's compassion as they follow our protagonist's journey. And those powerful messages are delivered with a finesse that feels powerful, radiating with the power of the scriptures' prevalence. These moments resonated deeply with me, and are one of the strongest aspects of this film in my opinion. Yet, even in these darker moments, Angel Studios has continued to keep the film family-friendly, and outside of loud noises, most people should be okay with watching this story with little fear or screaming. This is especially true with the music, which is perhaps my favorite part of this movie. Like a good Disney movie, David's songs, for the most part, all have a purpose. Their strong lyrics, powerful instruments, and a harmony like no other manage to feel like a prominent hymn, but with a lot more prowess and movie magic that is a particular weakness of mine. Sure, I would have liked a few fewer "church-sounding" songs, but the messages, timing, and prowess are excellent flavors that I felt did the movie justice for driving the messages home. As for the voice acting, I must nod that most accomplish their goals, with David's voice work my particular favorite, with how balanced it was, but still somehow not too suave or perfect. Sure, there are better performances, but I think they accomplished the part well, especially with those more serious and emotional moments.
Yet, Angel Studios is still more limited than the animation giants, and their budgets still struggle to fully unleash the tale's potential. For one thing, the animation is family-friendly, but a few more design changes and animation can do wonders for what is becoming a very cheeky-looking design choice that I think has a lot more potential. The characterizations are a little shallower than I anticipated, and I wish they had added just a bit more to their budget to help give it a bit more pop. The action also needs some more details as well, the safety of the Angel animation making all these epic fights rather plain, boring, and often a one-sided affair that I know is more about the message, but could have mirrored the live-action David a bit more to add some more thrills. Those minor elements aside, the movie is really a snapshot of this amazing man's life, and it really feels like it. David is an abbreviated tale, with Angel Studios now planning to do a Young David spinoff series to fill the gaps. While I appreciate the time management, for the film, such actions feel very brisk, and it makes the movie less splendid than I had hoped it would be. The film is also very preachy at times, to the point that some less enthusiastic members may roll their eyes and miss the message. I understand the source material, but the production quality emphasizes that preachiness, which at times gets a little cheesy. This also applied to some of the jokes for me; the slapstick humor was fun for a time before the running gag became old for most members outside of the young ones. And the ending culminated in something that feels rushed, which wasn't the worst at all, but just feels sort of a footnote rather than anything else. Maybe it's a cliffhanger for an impending sequel, but without the emotional finish, David's last shot may be spiritual, but not quite the movie finish.
The VERDICT:
David is a movie with a clear audience in mind. What works is that we finally get some diversity in the market, finally breaking away from the same story Hollywood has capitalized on for the last year. Excellent sound design is the key premise of this movie, bringing powerful moments to life, especially the musical numbers that drive the lessons home with their design. A lighthearted film with good morals, but still holding those Biblical moments that leave you awestruck, Angel Studios has told the tale in a family-friendly manner that will be very appealing to church groups, families, and those looking for a little light in these dark times. Yet, the film still needs balance issues, alongside a budget to help further things along so that the animation, pacing, and sequences fully convey the story contained in the Holy Book. Those who want to get some time with the story should see this movie in the theater, but for those who don't like religious movies, skip out on this one, given the limited presentation style of this film.
My scores are:
Adventure/Animation/Drama/Family/Musical: 8.0
Movie Overall: 7.0.
