Chupa

It is almost impossible not to like the teeth-full creature named Chupa. Irresistible cuteness, talks and acts like the most sought-after children's toy. Incredibly creative CGIs bring up the emotions of the cuddly creature at the forefront and establish a believable real bond between the children and the creature.

The director Jonas Quaron also co-written "Gravity" another CGI masterpiece, with his father Alfonso Quaron. And there's no doubt that the same creative genius played the role in developing the character of Chupa.

Alex (Evan Whitten) was sent by his mother to visit his paternal grandfather (Demian Bichir). Alex feels alone ever since the loss of his father and immediately connects to the creature who is also young and lost his parents.

It is a great children's story. It's also great for adults who like children's stories.

Relax with the hate. 5.6 is too little for this movie. It is a family movie, nothing more, and it is a funny and motivational one.

The CGI Chupacabras is nice, I dare to say since Falkor from "The NeverEnding Story" (1984) and Gizmo from "Gremlins" (1984) a furry creature wasn't so sympathetic and warmth. It would be a nice pet, expensive to feed but nice.

Hope all people out there watch the movie with their kids, remember their roots and their late fathers. Don't be grumpy, smile for a change and understand that Chupa is not a Academy Award or Festival movie, because is not pretentious like "Shazam: Fury of Gods", Chupa is simple and that's why it is enjoyable, though.

This has like a mix of E. T. and Water Horse but mostly on the premise not much on the heart. It was a bit too short so everything went by quickly so you didn't get to really bond with the whole child meets monster and become friends things. I was like "That was it?"

The Chupa is cute even with the feral cat hyena like design. They met roughly in the middle of the film so really there's not enough time to do much else. I think there was a bit too much of the bad guy sequences, which didn't really need to be that long since they didn't add to anything. They're just typical greedy villains so each screen time they got there wasn't anything new to add other than "We need to find Chupacabra". Hollow villains basically.

The movie's message is meant to be conveying: (As said by Cuarón, the "core message of" Chupa is "the importance of family, particularly in a character who was looking for his roots."). They did insert the characters being together but to me it felt lacking since they didn't dive deeper on what this child supposedly is looking to connect to his roots so he's not really opening up. Then when the main family moment happened it was fast then the next scene it was back to the bad guy sequence up to climax. So even with the usual child and monster friend goodbye scene it didn't really feel sorrowful because you didn't really see them bond together. They just poof close buds.

I would've rated this 5.5 but opted for 5. Chupa being cute isn't enough for me. They had a good message but they let that plot go. Where was the actual connection to his roots? The kids might like it because again, cute cuddly monster. But yeah the show feels dated with the acting and the awkward sequences.

Good old fashion family movie with heart without the loud smart-alecky characters and annoying poppy music that plague today's movies.

Characters are properly developed, with normal human qualities.. Also nice to see Christian Slater again, if only he didn't have to play the bad guy.

Plot is straight forward without the ridiculous loophole prone complexities that many third rate writers and directors succumb to today.

Only shortcoming is the main child character is actually the weakest actor of all - his acting is unconvincing and self conscious unlike the natural flow of the others.

Animation and cinematography is fine enough.

Chupa is an entertaining and enjoyable children's movie that definitely captivated me with its imaginative story and lovable characters.

The movie follows the adventures of Alex (Evan Whitten), a young boy who discovers a mysterious creature known as the chupacabra, AKA Chupa, when visiting his family in Mexico. Alex quickly befriends Chupa and, with the help of his new friend, Alex embarks on a wild and exciting journey to protect Chupa from those who would harm him.

Chupa is a must-see film for children and families looking for an entertaining and meaningful story. The film boasts stunning visuals, with vibrant colors and creative creature design that I love and believe that they are perfectly suited for young viewers. The cast is fantastic, with Evan Whitten delivering a standout performance as both a shy and adventurous Alex, and Christian Slater and Demián Bichir lending their talents to the supporting cast. What really sets Chupa apart from others is its heartwarming message about the importance of accepting and protecting those who are different. With its captivating visuals, talented cast, and important message, Chupa is sure to become a new favorite among young viewers.

The movie teaches children valuable lessons about empathy and kindness, while still making its mark as a fun and exciting adventure. Note that this film does contain violent themes and some inappropriate language.

I give Chupa 4 out 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. Chupa release on Netflix on April 7, 2023. Don't miss it! By Ashleigh C., KIDS FIRST!