1. This is not about the similarly titled area of London
2. It is not a kid's film
Isle of Dogs is the second animated feature (the first being The Fantastic Mr Fox) to come from writer-director Wes Anderson. Set in Japan in the near future, it's a fable about persecuted minorities told in the form of the tale of a dog-hating mayor who uses the excuse of snout fever to banish all dogs to a refuse island.
One of the few stories I've read about this accused Anderson of cultural appropriation - a label that seems to be applied with expanding frequency. The writer took affront (although perhaps that's putting it a bit took strongly) about Anderson's western-lensed view of the Japanese.
Except it's not really a Western view as much as it's a Wes Anderson view. For anyone who's seen another Wes Anderson movie, this is yet another Wes Anderson movie. The comedy is as dry as the Sahara and equally ridiculous. The subject matter is treated both with ridicule and love, which is a constant throughout Anderson's films. Yes, it's a western view, but it reads as a love letter to Japan rather than a misappropriation of western culture.
Beyond that point, it's a beautifully quirky piece with some heartfelt voice performances - particularly from Bryan Cranston's Chief. I preferred it over The Fantastic Mr Fox, as I didn't have the memory source material playing with my expectations.
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