Abominable Movie Review - Warm, Fuzzy and Winning

By: Lynn Barker

In Abominable, teen Yi (Chloe Bennet), an accomplished violinist in Shanghai, misses her late dad and is driven to do odd jobs around town to save money for a trip they’d hoped to take. When she finds a huge but young Yeti hiding on her roof and learns he has escaped a facility where he was imprisoned and experimented on, she wants to help him.

Yi, sneaking out to do odd jobs, avoids her familyCourtesy of Universal Studios

She learns that his home is on Mount Everest, names him Everest and decides to take him there. Going along on the adventure are Yi’s vain teen cousin Jin (Tenzing Norgay Trainer) and 10-year-old friend Peng (Albert Tsai). Chasing them to the Himalayas is shady zoologist Dr. Zara (Sarah Paulson) and rich rare animal collector Mr. Burnish (Eddie Izzard) determined to get their Yeti back.

Abominable Trailer

Dr. Zara is determined to catch the escaped YetiCourtesy of Universal Studios

Escape and Hiding Place

In Shanghai, a huge creature escapes a lab facility. Seeing a billboard advertising a trip to Mount Everest, the creature climbs an apartment building to get a closer look and hides on the roof. Young Yi, a building resident, leaves her concerned mom and grandma to rush off to do odd jobs around the city. Kids, including her own cousin Jin, make fun of her shaggy appearance. She is saving money for a trip around China once planned by her late dad. She climbs up to her secret hideout on the roof and plays her dad’s violin….beautifully. This wakes the sleeping Yeti who cowers from her and has an injury. She spends some hard-earned money on medicine and bandages for him.

Yi tends to Yeti Everest's injuryCourtesy of Universal Studios

Magic?

Yi makes friends with the Yeti, feeds him and, seeing the poster, names him Everest. She plays violin for him and he starts humming along and….glowing! A nearly dead plant nearby comes beautifully alive again. The Yeti is magic! Meanwhile Mr. Burnish who owns the lab, assigns Dr. Zara to track down and return his captured Yeti. He must prove they really exist. Discovering the Yeti and thinking he’s a threat, Jin reports the “wild beast” alerting Dr. Zara who gives chase as Yi hops on the Yeti’s back and they run. Jin and young Peng follow, assuming that the beast has kidnapped Yi.

Yeti Everest is fascinated by Yi's musicCourtesy of Universal Studios

Off to Everest

Yi gets Everest on a ship whose destination is closer to Mount Everest. He is confused so she decides to go along. Jin and Peng end up on the ship as well. Jin’s parents think he is off on a college scouting trip to Beijing.

Jin tells his family he is checking out a collegeCourtesy of Universal Studios

Mr. Burnish collects rare animals and, since the world didn’t believe him years ago when he saw Yetis, he must show Everest to the doubters. Dr. Zara seems to love animals and will do her best to get the Yeti back safely. Meanwhile, Yi, Yeti and the guys make it to land but end up in a woodland where the magical Everest creates giant blueberries for them to eat. Jin leaves the group to go back home. When Dr. Zara and Burnish close in, Yi, Peng and the Yeti escape on magical giant dandelions floating on the wind.

Everest's magic surrounds Jin, Yi and PengCourtesy of Universal Studios

Further Adventures

Jin, who has been nabbed by Dr. Zara, overhears her real plans for the Yeti. Jin escapes and learns to grow up and survive as he makes his way through a dangerous woods. He trades his precious cellphone for a boat and rescues Yi, Yeti and Peng from a high mountain village when Dr. Zara and forces close in.

Jin rescues Yi and others in a boatCourtesy of Universal Studios

It’s learned that Everest’s magical powers over nature grow the closer he gets to home. He magically repairs Yi’s violin when it is broken. When she plays, nature responds to her magically as well. Yi and group reach a bridge high on Everest but the baddies block the way. Burnish remembers his sense of wonder when seeing a Yeti family years ago. This Yeti is a child trying to get home. He orders his minions to let the Yeti go but will they?

Yi's playing magically makes flowers growCourtesy of Universal Studios

Home?

What will happen to Everest? Will he use more magic to get back to his family? Will Yi, who has learned to really appreciate her remaining family, Jin and Peng ever get home? Will Mr. Burnish’s change of heart stick? Will Dr. Zara’s evil plans be foiled?

Mr. Burnish wants his Yeti backCourtesy of Universal Studios

Strange Dr. Zara seems to love animals Courtesy of Universal Studios

Everest sees home Courtesy of Universal Studios

The kids appreciate the value of family Courtesy of Universal Studios

Can Yi and friends get Everest home? Courtesy of Universal Studios

On the way to Mount Everest Courtesy of Universal Studios

Peng loves basketball Courtesy of Universal Studios

Young Peng loves playing with Everest Courtesy of Universal Studios

 Wrapping Up

Although the Abominable basic story is mostly predictable and, like recent animated films Smallfoot and Missing Link, is about an “abominable snowman”, the movie is so warm, fuzzy, beautiful and heartfelt that you won’t care. Animation is lovely and looks like a painting. Violin solos by the Yi character are wonderful to hear, just soar and match the gorgeous animated landscapes.

Yi loves her new magical friendCourtesy of Universal Studios

It is nice for diversity that the well fleshed-out lead characters are mostly Asian and voiced by Asian actors and that Yeti Everest never speaks although his magical humming is pleasant. He comes off as your big, goofy, friendly family mutt with a strong homing instinct. He’s infinitely huggable. And, of course it is enjoyable that he can commune with nature and bend it magically to his will. Giving Yi a touch of this ability shows us that there is a little nurturing magic in all of us.

Everest can make flowers growCourtesy of Universal Studios

The film has plenty of funny moments to lighten the serious quest and messages of growing up through adversity, friendship and family and the value of home are worthy. If you find all these things to be corny, you might not appreciate the film but we do and award five stars.

Abominable Movie Rating: 

Courtesy of Universal Studios

See Abominable in theaters Friday, September 27^th

Share Your Dreams

Is there a dream trip or vacation that you have always wanted to take? Would you do odd jobs to save for it? If you found a hurt lab animal, would you try to save it? Do you think we all have a little magic inside us? Let everyone know with a comment!