flora and ulysses christian movie review

Copyright, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Flora and Ulysses

Reviewed by: Blake Wilson CONTRIBUTOR

Comic book loving 10-year-old

Struggles with loneliness

Parents who have separated and have floundering careers

Child’s emotional struggle with her parents’ separation

Emotional prisons

Trials and tribulations of life

Squirrel with superpowers

The role of superheroes

Restoring hope

Bringing excitement into hum-drum lives

About the ANIMALS of the Bible

“No tights. No cape. No problem.”

F lora ( Matilda Lawler ) is a self-proclaimed cynic. And one might say she has a solid enough backstory to prove it. With her parents ( Alyson Hannigan and Ben Schwartz ) separated and heading towards divorce, Flora has come to believe that her world has lost all hope and wonder. That is, until she met Ulysses the Squirrel.

After saving him from a near-deadly accident, Flora decides to take care of the creature behind her Mom’s back. But what this spunky girl doesn’t realize is that her new pet may have developed some very unusual abilities as a result of the accident. After seeing a message from the squirrel on her Mom’s typewriter, she willingly helps Ulysses discover his purpose. And maybe help her family get back together in the process.

Based on the best-selling children’s book by Kate DiCamillo ( Because of Winn-Dixie , The Tale of Desperaux ), “Flora and Ulysses” is an enthusiastic and fun kids” movie. It moves at a quick pace, features very solid character development, and carries multiple entertaining references to superhero comics and movies. In tone and feel, it also feels like the family films I used to see in theaters when I was younger.

Perhaps the film’s biggest strength, however, is Ulysses himself. The effects that brought him to life are well-done, with a handful of memorably adorable and hilarious moments. As Flora, Lawler showcases a memorable enthusiasm and wit that has a clear influence on the rest of the cast and the movie itself. Now, sometimes the film does go a bit too over the top with its story elements, with a couple of overly-silly situations in the second act. And the villain (played by Danny Pudi ) is too cartoonish to really stand out.

As far as messages go, the film has a subtly positive message on how it’s important to view things from the right perspective. Flora and her family learn that the world is more than just the struggles and obstacles life often brings. They also learn to find hope and wonder through the love they have for each other.

It is true that how we see the world is in how we choose to look at it. Yes, life can be tough and the world is definitely a broken place. And that can lead to cynicism. But if we can choose hope and joy, we can find God’s blessings in the beauty and wonder around us. This reminded me of the importance of having a childlike faith , as mentioned in Luke 18.

Now, “Flora and Ulysses” is not a faith-driven story. It’s incredible happenings (or as Flora mentions, “unanticipated occurrences”) are credited to the universe once or twice. Astronomy is mentioned a few times by Flora’s friend, William. And we hear a couple of times about a statue of a couple of movie characters (Jack and Rose from Titanic) and how it seems to be a good luck charm of sorts for one character.

Of course, being a superhero story, there is action involved. However, it is pretty much all slapstick in this case (overall, it’s tamer than “The Incredibles”). The film’s most intense moments include a couple of times where Ulysses shatters a window accidentally (causing one sign to fall), and a few comedic moments where a crazy cat viciously (and cartoonishly) attacking unsuspecting civilians (we see a few scratches on one person’s face, and a moment where he climbs into a person’s shirt and breaks out of it). Tranquilizer darts are shot and Flora’s dad suffers from some temporary paralysis as a result of being hit. A car door is ripped off. William mentions how he pushed a car into a lake as an act of revenge on someone.

Other than that, Flora’s mother is a romance novelist. We do see a few covers of her books that involve couples in romantic situations (nothing too salacious, however, as this is a PG movie). Flora mentions her Mom’s characters are superheroes, and have powers “she’s not old enough to know about yet.” Flora’s mom asks her daughter for another word for “steamy” at one point. She also over-exaggerates and thinks her daughter is “on drugs” at another point. Flora and her Dad lie a handful of times. Euthanization is mentioned by a villain. Glasses of wine are seen at one point towards the end.

In the end, “Flora and Ulysses” is a very entertaining watch. Alright, so it’s not going to rank among the best superhero movies ever made. However, with enthusiastic energy, some enjoyable moments for adults, and very likable characters, it definitely makes (except maybe for sensitive little ones) for a fun family movie night.

Violence: Mild
Nudity: Minor
Profane language: None
Vulgar/Crude language: None
Drugs/Alcohol: Minor
Occult: None

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers .

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Flora & ulysses, common sense media reviewers.

Quirky, book-based tale has action, dramatic moments.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Kids could be inspired to hold onto their artistic

Superheroes have a purpose -- usually liberty, fre

Flora demonstrates perseverance in her determinati

Lots of mayhem and disruption involving Ulysses th

Phyllis writes romance novels; book covers, some o

Titanic -- the movie and characters -- is a runnin

Adults drink wine with meals.

Educational Value

Kids could be inspired to hold onto their artistic and creative dreams, even if they come up against roadblocks.

Positive Messages

Superheroes have a purpose -- usually liberty, freedom, or revenge -- and they help others. Families and friends help each other through rough times. Being cynical and "seeing what's real" means you can miss out on magic and hope.

Positive Role Models

Flora demonstrates perseverance in her determination to save and believe in Ulysses, and in her parents. She's very independent, walking around town on her own, selling off old comic books for cash. Her parents, separated, are both facing writer's block, both adrift and struggling. Flora's family welcomes William. It's said that a character played by a sighted actor has been blind since a traumatic incident; he ( spoiler alert ) abruptly regains his sight and declares that his condition must have been "hysterical." Principal cast members are White; supporting cast includes some actors of color.

Violence & Scariness

Lots of mayhem and disruption involving Ulysses the squirrel: He's sucked into a vacuum, and Flora performs CPR to save him. He destroys inside and outside of a diner and dining room. A temperamental cat attacks people. Flora says her mom killed her hamster when she hit it with a pan. We learn that William pushed a car into a lake, which got him sent away for a summer. Miller shoots animals and humans with tranquilizer darts; kids are within his line of fire. He says a squirrel will need to be euthanized to test its brain tissue for rabies. A car door breaks off while kids are inside, and mention is made that one of them later fell out at a turn. The same car nearly has a head-on collision with a bus.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Phyllis writes romance novels; book covers, some of them sensual, line her walls. She can't think of a synonym for "steamy" while writing. A separated man and woman share an awkward hug, then kiss at the end of a movie. Another adult couple comes close to kissing. Flora lies that she's "pregnant" when she's caught with Ulysses in her shirt.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Titanic -- the movie and characters -- is a running reference. Also mentioned/seen: The Fantastic Four, Wolverine, Nissan, Froot Loops, Pop Tarts, Underwood typewriter, Instagram, Denim Records.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Flora & Ulysses is a quirky, kid-friendly story about a superhero squirrel. Based on the book by Kate DiCamillo , it has dramatic elements involving separated parents and action scenes played for humor. Ten-year-old Flora (Matilda Lawler) has become cynical as a result of her parents' struggles. She says that the hardest part of not having hope is watching people -- namely, her parents -- who once did have hope and no longer do. Flora demonstrates perseverance in pushing through the hard times thanks to a newfound conviction in Ulysses' superpowers. The squirrel, while adorable, causes mayhem and destruction wherever he goes, including tearing apart a diner and destroying a dining room. The animal control agent who's trying to capture Ulysses shoots tranquilizer darts randomly at Flora and other characters, hitting one multiple times. It's also said that Ulysses will need to be euthanized to test his brain tissue for rabies. A man nearly crashes his car with two kids in it, and a car door is ripped off. A temperamental cat attacks people, and Flora's friend William (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) declares that his blindness must have been "hysterical" after it abruptly goes away. Flora's mom ( Alyson Hannigan ) writes romance novels, and some sensual book covers are framed on her walls. She and Flora's dad ( Ben Schwartz ) share an awkward hug and later kiss. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Community Reviews

Parents say (24)
Kids say (21)

Based on 24 parent reviews

INCREDIBLE!!!!!

Not divorce friendly, what's the story.

The title characters of FLORA & ULYSSES are 10-year-old Flora (Matilda Lawler) and the squirrel she saves after a freak accident involving a vacuum. Flora is in a rut: Ever since her parents, George and Phyllis ( Ben Schwartz and Alyson Hannigan ), separated, which led both of them to stall out personally and professionally, Flora has been covering up her grief by feigning cynicism. Cynics, she warns, don't hope -- they see what's real . They know that magic and wonder and superheroes are imaginary. But when Flora saves Ulysses (voiced by John Kassis) and takes him home, she quickly realizes that he has special powers. He writes poetry, learns to fly, and may have other abilities. Together with her dad and new neighbor William (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth), Flora must protect Ulysses from the local animal control agent ( Danny Pudi ). And Ulysses, in turn, may just help Flora and her parents rekindle their belief in magic.

Is It Any Good?

This offbeat book-based film is as silly as you might expect from the premise, but it also packs a sneaky emotional punch. If you find yourself shedding a tear over the fate of, yes, a squirrel, chalk it up to the flawless, adorable animation of Ulysses and a mostly commanding performance by Lawler as the outwardly clever but inwardly despondent Flora. She's entirely convincing as a 10-year-old who's holding things together while her parents fall apart. You know she shouldn't be in that position -- any more than she should be sitting in the front seat of her dad's new sports car -- but that's part of the zaniness and also the weightiness of the role. Flora pulls her family back together through the strength of her conviction ... in a magic squirrel. Whether her story is real or imagined, well, that's up to you to decide. But it's the characters' own belief in magic that helps them rediscover their hope, confidence, and path forward.

Following Flora & Ulysses ' use of superhero metaphors, Flora herself isn't unlike her dad's creation, the superhero Incandesto, whose light saves souls from the darkness of despair. The gold-clad Incandesto (Darien Martin), who regularly pops up to cheer Flora on, is just one more quirky but likable character in the cast, which also includes William, a dry, formal chap who has an unexplained British accent and blindness that turns out to be (as he says) "hysterical," and the squirrel-obsessed/tranquilizer-happy animal control agent Miller, whose mania recalls Bill Murray in Caddyshack . As these two character descriptions may imply, the film doesn't seem particularly concerned with contemporary political correctness. This -- together with throwback references drizzled throughout and a zippy soundtrack that includes classics from Tom Jones, MC Hammer, and Cat Stevens -- adds up to give Flora & Ulysses a somewhat retro feel.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the outlines of superhero tales mentioned in Flora & Ulysses , such as their origin stories, their discovery of purpose, and the expansion of their powers. What makes superheroes so appealing?

What is Ulysses' superpower? If you could have any superpower, which one would you pick?

How does Flora show perseverance ? Why is this an important character strength ?

This movie is based on a book . If you've read the book, how does the movie compare? If you haven't read the book, do you want to read it now?

Movie Details

On DVD or streaming : February 19, 2021
Cast : Matilda Lawler , Alyson Hannigan , Ben Schwartz
Director : Lena Khan
Inclusion Information : Female actors
Studio : Disney+
Genre : Family and Kids
Topics : Magic and Fantasy , Superheroes , Book Characters , Wild Animals
Character Strengths : Perseverance
Run time : 91 minutes
MPAA rating : PG
MPAA explanation : some mild action and thematic elements
Award : Common Sense Selection
Last updated : April 13, 2024

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Movie Reviews

Tv/streaming, collections, great movies, chaz's journal, contributors, flora & ulysses.

Now streaming on:

Kate DiCamillo's Newbery Award-winning novel about a girl who prides herself on being a cynic has been adapted into an unabashedly un-cynical and utterly winning film for families about that most unsung of superpowers: hope.

Ten-year-old Flora (a very appealing Matilda Lawler ) narrates her own story, and it is clear she would not have it any other way. She likes to be in charge, especially after she learns that the adults in her life are not able to make things work the way they should. Her father George ( Ben Schwartz ) creates comic books Flora loves about superheroes like Incandesto, who has the power of light. But George has not been able to sell his ideas. He has given up and now has the very non-superheroic job of stocking the shelves in a big box store. This has put a strain on his marriage and he and Flora's mother Phyllis ( Alyson Hannigan ) have separated.

Phyllis writes romance novels, with characters she says are kind of like superheroes. Framed book covers of her books decorate the walls and she is very proud of a Jack and Rose trophy awarded by Romantic Living Magazine . But the separation from George has made it hard for her to write about love. She and hopes that buying an old-fashioned typewriter will help her connect to a new story.

Flora is feeling disconnected, too. We first see her selling her comic book collection because superheroes who "come to us with a purpose, to save those in need and to stand watch when danger closes in" do not ever show up in the real world. Her motto is: "Do not hope. Observe." She calls herself a cynic and likes to prepare for the worse. One of her favorite books is called Terrible Things Can Happen to You .

But wonderful things can happen, too. Flora meets a squirrel named Ulysses. Or, rather, she names him Ulysses after she rescues him from a Roomba-style outdoor vacuum cleaner, involving mouth-to-squirrel-mouth resuscitation. She brings him home. Like Don Marquis' "vers libre bard," Archy the cockroach, he leaves a poem on Phyllis' old-style typewriter. Flora observes Ulysses, and in spite of herself, she begins to hope. Ulysses just might be a superhero.

The superhero power of this movie comes from its endearingly offbeat characters, goofy humor, and gentle insights about finding optimism even when things go wrong. It is all done with a light touch, though some families may be sensitive to issues like traumatic blindness, parental separation, and the threat of euthanizing an animal.

Screenwriter Brad Copeland ("Arrested Development") and director Lena Khan keep things moving briskly, with energetic action scenes accompanied by lively needle-drops, ranging from OK Go to Cat Stevens, Bill Withers, and Tom Jones . But it never feels hurried. The film makes time for us to get to know the characters and for them to get to know each other. In one delightful scene, George, working alone at night in the store, dances through the aisles.

Every role is performed with verve and humor. Schwartz is terrific with Lawler, with a warmth that makes their connection feel easy and natural. Flora has a new friend, an erudite boy named William ( Benjamin Evan Ainsworth ) who has been diagnosed with hysterical blindness following an incident he will not discuss. But he turns out to be game for adventure, with special skills that include "seeing" via echolocation by making little chirps, like a bat, and "a knack for absorbing short falls."

The always-welcome Anna Deavere Smith plays Dr. Meacham, a wise guide and a good friend who believes in Ulysses and in Flora. And as every kid-and-an-animal story must, there's a villain from animal control, Danny Pudi as the guy in the uniform, armed with a tranquilizer gun. Kate Micucci as a waitress scared by Ulysses and Bobby Moynihan as a comic book store owner who is a little scared of Flora add to the fun. The real find is Lawler, who shows us that Flora may act like a cynic who enjoys expecting the worst, but she is thrilled to discover how to be open to the magic around her.

Available on Disney+ on February 19th.

Nell Minow is the Contributing Editor at RogerEbert.com.

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Film credits.

Flora & Ulysses (2021)

Matilda Lawler as Flora Buckman

Alyson Hannigan as Phyllis Buckman

Ben Schwartz as George Buckman

Danny Pudi as Miller

Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as William Spiver

Kate Micucci as Rita

Kate DiCamillo
Brad Copeland

Cinematography

Andrew Dunn

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FLORA & ULYSSES

"hope conquers cynicism".

What You Need To Know:

Miscellaneous Immorality: Lying, some references to magic and wonder but not in an occult sense, and boy admits he got angry at his stepfather and pushed the man’s car into a lake.

More Detail:

FLORA & ULYSSES is a family comedy streaming on Disney+ about a cynical 10-year-old girl who befriends a little squirrel with superpowers and learns about the importance of hope while they dodge an animal control officer who thinks the squirrel has rabies. FLORA & ULYSSES is cute, touching and funny, with positive messages about hope and family, but the movie contains references to “the Universe,” some slapstick comedy and lying.

Narrated by Flora, the 10-year-old girl, the movie opens with Flora explaining her family’s situation. Her mother, Phyllis, is a successful romance novelist. Her father, George, has written some comic books, but he can’t find a publisher and has lost all hope. So, her parents have decided to separate and are thinking about a divorce. With her father out of the house, Flora’s mother has lost her romantic muse and has developed a severe case of writer’s block. All this has turned Flora into a cynical little girl, though she still believes in superheroes, like the ones her father creates. All superheroes need to find their purpose, she says.

One day, the neighbor’s artificial intelligence vacuum sweeper goes bonkers and starts sweeping the grass outside. Flora and the neighbor try to trap the sweeper, but it keeps escaping. The sweeper then hits a tree, knocking a squirrel to the ground, where it gets hit in the head by the nut it was carrying. The vacuum cleaner sweeps up the little fellow, but Flora and the neighbor manage to cut off the sweeper’s power and retrieve the unconscious squirrel from the sweeper’s canister. The squirrel appears to have stopped breathing, so Flora gives it CPR and the squirrel miraculously revives.

Flora names the creature Ulysses, after the vacuum cleaner’s artificial intelligence program. She takes it home to her bedroom, where she hides it from her mother. Her father comes by to visit Flora, and they go to a donut diner to eat breakfast. At the restaurant, however, the waitress thinks Flora has a cat in her backpack. A cat fancier, the waitress tries to look at the cat, but she startles Ulysses, and he goes nuts. Scared and frantic, Ulysses wrecks the diner, including the large donut sign out front. He also scares the waitress by jumping on her head. To get away from the commotion inside the diner, Ulysses makes an impossible leap.

Back home, Flora thinks Ulysses somehow has gained superpowers. She soon finds out that Ulysses can understand her, though he can’t talk like a human. In fact, Ulysses can even use her mom’s old typewriter, which she bought so she could get into the mood to write her next book, a romance novel set in the 1920s.

Flora’s emotional connection with Ulysses starts giving her a new sense of hope. However, the waitress at the diner tells the local animal control officer that the squirrel that wrecked the diner has rabies. Squirrels are this guy’s nemesis. He wants to grab Ulysses and kill it so the animal control lab can test his brain to make sure it doesn’t have rabies. All he has to find Ulusses, however, is her father’s license plate.

Meanwhile, Flora befriends a neighbor boy, William, who’s visiting his aunt for the summer because he developed a case of temporary blindness involving his widowed mother and her new husband. Flora, William, Flora’s father, and, eventually, her mother try to protect Ulysses from the manic animal control officer

FLORA & ULYSSES is cute, touching and funny. As Flora, Matilda Lawler does a bang-up, energetic job. Her narration is really engaging. Alyson Hannigan and Ben Schwartz are also very good as Flora’s parents. Furthermore, the scenes with the squirrel have the cute factor that one would expect from such a family movie.

FLORA & ULYSSES has many positive messages about hope and family. Eventually, caring for Ulysses and protecting him from the mean animal control office brings Flora’s family together. Also, the hope that Ulysses brings Flora’s family restores her own hope and defeats her cynical attitude. At the end, Flora also says, “We found wonder and magic in the people we love.”

This positive content is marred by several anthropomorphic references to “the Universe” that seem to replace talk about God. People also mention the universe expanding, not just in a scientific or literal sense, but also in the sense that helping Ulysses has expanded the universe, or the social and natural environment, of Flora’s family. FLORA & ULYSSES also contains some slapstick comedy, such as Flora and Ulysses accidentally getting bonked in the head, and people being attacked by a ferocious pussycat living near the father’s apartment. MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for younger children.

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Cast & crew
User reviews

Flora & Ulysses

When Flora rescues a squirrel she names Ulysses, she is amazed to discover he possesses unique superhero powers, which take them on an adventure of humorous complications that ultimately cha... Read all When Flora rescues a squirrel she names Ulysses, she is amazed to discover he possesses unique superhero powers, which take them on an adventure of humorous complications that ultimately change Flora's life and her outlook forever. When Flora rescues a squirrel she names Ulysses, she is amazed to discover he possesses unique superhero powers, which take them on an adventure of humorous complications that ultimately change Flora's life and her outlook forever.

Brad Copeland
Kate DiCamillo
Matilda Lawler
Alyson Hannigan
Ben Schwartz
74 User reviews
57 Critic reviews
62 Metascore
2 nominations

Dr. Meescham

(as Kyle Straut)

The Mighty Condor
(as Tori Katongo)
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Did you know

Trivia The doorbell tone on Flora's house is the Imperial March from Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) .
Goofs While Flora is riding her bicycle through the park after selling her comic books, the camera pans down too far and shows the wheels of her bicycle are not turning even though she is peddling hard. The bicycle is mounted on a truck or trailer to allow controlled camera and mic positioning.

Flora : It turns out the hardest thing about having hope is watching the people who don't.

Connections Featured in 49th Annie Awards (2022)
Soundtracks You Know What I Mean Written by Matt MacNeil , Matt Tavares (as Matthew Tavares) Performed by Homer Courtesy of Matthew Tavares and Matt MacNeil

User reviews 74

jprice-96081
Feb 20, 2021
How long is Flora & Ulysses? Powered by Alexa
February 19, 2021 (United States)
United States
Stream Flora & Ulysses officially on Disney+ Hotstar Indonesia
Flora and Ulysses
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Walt Disney Pictures
Netter Productions
See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

Runtime 1 hour 35 minutes
Dolby Digital

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Book Review

Flora and ulysses.

Kate DiCamillo
Contemporary , Humor

Readability Age Range

Candlewick Press
Newbery Medal Winner, 2014

Year Published

This book has been reviewed by Focus on the Family Thriving Family , a marriage and parenting magazine.

Plot Summary

Ten-year-old Flora Belle Buckman is a self-proclaimed cynic who loves adventure comic books. One day, she sees the neighbor Tootie Tickham accidentally suck up a squirrel in her powerful new vacuum cleaner. In a recurring section of Flora’s comic books called Terrible Things Can Happen to You , Flora has read how to perform CPR.

She pulls the squirrel from the vacuum, resuscitates him and names him Ulysses. She believes his near-death experience may have turned him into a superhero. She tries to squelch her sense of hopefulness about this, however, remembering that her comic books recommend always observing rather than hoping . Hoping, the books say, may cause you to waste valuable time you could use to take action.

The squirrel develops some unusual skills upon coming back to life. He lifts heavy objects, including the vacuum cleaner. He enjoys feelings, such as his deep love for Flora, and he is able to think of things other than food. He can understand what Flora tells him, and he responds by nodding. He even can type and write poetry.

Tootie and her quirky great-nephew, William Spiver (who believes he is suffering from temporary trauma-induced blindness and insists on being called by his full name), are intrigued by Ulysses. While they are all at Flora’s house, Mrs. Buckman sees Ulysses for the first time. He is climbing up the precious shepherdess lamp she calls Mary Ann.

Flora believes her mother prizes Mary Ann above everything else, including Flora herself. Flora’s dad comes to get Flora for a visit. Mrs. Buckman pulls him aside and demands he put the squirrel in a sack and beat it over the head before burying it. Flora realizes if Ulysses is a superhero, then her own mother is Ulysses’ arch nemesis.

Flora’s father takes her to the Giant Do-Nut shop where Ulysses leaps into a waitress’s tall, scary hair. Ulysses is thrown and hits his head, but not before he flies like a superhero. They escape from the angry staff to Mr. Buckman’s apartment building.

Flora sees that one of his neighbor’s doors says “doctor” on it, so she seeks medical help for Ulysses. It turns out the woman, Dr. Meescham, is a doctor of philosophy. Ulysses regains consciousness, and Dr. Meescham makes lunch. She talks about the perils of loneliness and mentions how sad Mr. Buckman was to leave Flora. Flora is surprised to learn her father has cried many tears over her on Dr. Meescham’s couch.

Dr. Meescham pooh-poohs Flora’s claim of being a cynic. She tells Flora about the theistic argument Pascal’s Wager, in which Pascal contended that since it can’t be proven whether God exists, we have everything to gain and nothing to lose by believing it. Dr. Meescham lives her life this way, hoping for and believing in miracles still to come.

Flora’s concern that Ulysses may not actually be a superhero is soon put to rest. Her father arrives at Dr. Meescham’s to take her home but is attacked by the building owner’s vicious cat. Ulysses lifts the gigantic cat off of Mr. Buckman’s head and throws it down the hall.

When Flora and her father return to Mrs. Buckman’s house, they find William Spiver helping her write one of her romance novels. He feels he has a way with words, though he says his interests really lie in meditating on the ever-expanding universe. Flora calls him a traitor for helping her mother — Ulysses’ arch-nemesis — and says she’s going to move in with her father. Her mother says that Flora moving in with her father would make her mother’s life easier. Despite all her efforts to be a cynic who doesn’t care about love, Flora is crushed. William says he understands her grief and reveals that he was banished from his household by his mother and stepfather. His stepfather repeatedly refused to call him by his proper name, so he pushed the man’s truck into a lake.

Flora’s mother and father talk alone, and Father says Flora needs to stay with her mother right now because Mrs. Buckman needs her. Flora misses her father and William Spiver and the person her mother used to be. Mother starts chain smoking and pretends to like Ulysses, his flying and the poetry he types.

One night, Mother catches Ulysses at her typewriter and makes him type a letter stating he’s leaving Flora. Ulysses is grieved because none of his goodbye letter is true. He doesn’t want to abandon his friend. When Flora discovers her mother and Ulysses are gone, she enlists the help of William Spiver and Tootie. They try to find Mother before she kills Ulysses. Flora brings Mary Ann. She hopes she can use her mother’s precious lamp to make an exchange for Ulysses. Flora and William Spiver take comfort by holding each other’s hands and talking about missing their fathers.

Still unable to find Ulysses after several hours, Flora, Tootie and William Spiver go to Mr. Buckman’s apartment. They learn Ulysses escaped from Mother and made his way to Dr. Meescham’s apartment. Mother shows up at the apartment building, and the apartment manager’s vicious cat attacks. In the fray, Mother’s lamp breaks.

Flora thinks her mother will be devastated, but Mother is only concerned that Flora is OK. Mrs. Buckman admits to kidnapping Ulysses because she wanted things to go back to normal. But when she returned home and Flora wasn’t there, she realized all she wanted was her daughter back. Ulysses types a poem about his love for Flora. Everyone listens as Tootie recites the words about how nothing would be easier without Flora and how she has expanded his universe.

Christian Beliefs

Dr. Meescham chooses to believe in God and watch for miracles.

Other Belief Systems

One of Flora’s comic books suggests perhaps inanimate objects take on evil energy if they’re in the household of an evil person. Her comics also say people in history who acted strangely (similar to Flora’s mother) were sometimes accused of being inhabited by a demon, devil or alien. The comic says that this most likely was not the case, but that the people’s psyches had simply been pushed to the breaking point.

Authority Roles

Flora’s parents are divorced. Before the divorce, they said critical words to each other but acted as though they were talking to Flora. Flora’s mother is a self-centered romance writer whose career is her only real concern. When Flora asks to live with her father, her mother says that would make life easier. She later recants and reveals she is a troubled soul who loves her daughter very much.

Flora describes her socially awkward father as the loneliest man in the world. Dr. Meescham reveals that Flora’s father has cried many tears for Flora. Dr. Meescham is a kind, hopeful woman, who listens to the problems of others and offers wise advice.

Profanity & Violence

The word heck appears once. Taking lines from Flora’s comic books, Flora and her father sometimes say holy bagumba and holy unanticipated occurrences .

Sexual Content

Discussion topics.

Get free discussion questions for this book and others, at FocusOnTheFamily.com/discuss-books .

Additional Comments

You can request a review of a title you can’t find at [email protected] .

Book reviews cover the content, themes and worldviews of fiction books, not their literary merit, and equip parents to decide whether a book is appropriate for their children. The inclusion of a book’s review does not constitute an endorsement by Focus on the Family.

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FLORA & ULYSSES – Review

So with all the holidays this month, not to mention “snow days” (with the “at home learning” is that really still a thing), when will those movies be released (to quote that Coen Brothers classic) “you know… for the kids”? Well move aside all you somber “indie” dramas and feature docs, here comes a new live-action feature adaptation of an award-winning (the 2014 Newbery Medal) childrens’ book. And it’s a human/animal team-up, much like the live-action features that the Disney Studio would “pair up” with their re-issues of their animated classics in the 60s and 70s (or at least with a “long-form” short like their Winnie the Pooh “featurettes”). Yes, the “mouse house” is behind this flick, also. But there’s no need to brave the elements as it premieres on their streaming service, perfect for pausing during the snack refills. Oh, almost forgot to reveal the identity of the “team”. Much in the “vein” of Christopher Robin and “that silly old bear”, make way for the exploits of FLORA & ULYSSES (who may be a tad closer to Batman & Robin).

Speaking of that “dynamic duo”, the human half of the team is obsessed with superheroes. That would be Flora Buckman (Matilda Lawler), the story’s eight-year-old narrator. After her “takes” on the Silver Surfer and Wolverine, she delves into the origins of her favorite hero, “Incandesto”. Not heard of him? No wonder, since he’s the unsold (to any comics company) creation of her father, George (Ben Schwartz). Actually, his frustration over the rejection of all his characters may have been a big reason behind his separation from his wife (and Flora’s mom), Phyllis (Alyson Hannigan). She’s a semi-successful author of romance novels (winner of the coveted “Jack & Rose” award), and Flora’s living with her in the old family house (but still visits her pop every weekend). One afternoon, Flora’s routine is disrupted by the next-door neighbor. Her automated vacuum cleaner has run amok and scarfed up a squirrel. Flora frees him, but the critter bonds with her. Then she realizes that he has “super powers’ (he follows her directions and can write poetry on her laptop. Now named Ulysses, Flora takes him to visit the only superhero expert she knows, good ole’ daddy. He takes her to brunch at a local diner, unaware she has Ulysses stuffed in a schoolbag. The delicious smells drive the squirrel wild and soon he’s bouncing around the eatery. The trio escapes, but the authorities have been alerted, namely the over-zealous head of the city’s animal control department, officer Miller (Danny Pudi). Can Flora keep him away from her new best furry friend? And what other powers does Ulysses have up his sleeve…er…paw?

A cast of seasoned veteran comedy performers (mostly from TV) pool their considerable talents to “juice-up” this thin familiar fable that’s stretched to feature-length. However, the human character in the title is played by relative newcomer Lawler, who proves to be a pleasant screen presence. She carefully avoids the pitfalls of many pre-teen thespians with her ability to give the right push for a punchline while never “over-selling” or “mugging” (the bane of most basic cable TV kids). Her adorable energy also helps as she goes for the heartstrings when her furry pal’s in peril. Though he’s most entertaining as the self-involved doofus Jean-Ralphio of TV’s “Parks and Recreations”, Schwartz is quite good as the father who always has a smile for his angel even as the world smacks him down (he’s got the proper “soul-drained” eyes when we see him at his 9 to 5 gig at a big box office supply store). Hannigan has a tougher challenge as the “straight man” for many of the exchanges with Flora, while also trying to be nurturing but strict (gotta’ balance those comic books with real lit). But she gets to deliver some laughs (though none of the “band camp” variety) as a frustrated writer who may not have any more “bodice-rippers” bouncing in her brain (the antique typewriter magnifies that blank sheet of paper). Plus Phyllis and George yearn to re-unite, though neither knows the way to patch the leaks in their relationship. Oh, Lawler’s not the only grade-schooler on board. Benjamin Evan Ainsworth plays William, the visiting nephew of their next-door neighbor, who is dealing with a rare case of hysterical blindness. We’re told that it’s caused by stress, perhaps to make some of the crude gags more palatable (he thinks he’s a junior Daredevil). Maybe they thought that Flora should have a cohort closer to her own age, but the teaming rarely works. Still, they fare better than Pudi, forever Abed of “Community”, who’s saddled with the kids’ movie cliche of the thwarted abused adult, a guy always on the losing end of some painful pratfalls (Pesci and Stern set the standard in the HOME ALONE flicks) as Miller the menace. Luckily he’s only armed with a tranquilizer pistol, though he gleefully fires with little regard for innocents, and somehow can never aim it when constantly attacked by a CGI cat that seems to be the spawn of the Tazmanian Devil and Church from PET SEMATARY. Pudi deserves better than this dim-witted dweeb of a villain. Anna Deavere Smith is a kindly, calming influence as the sympathetic doc that acts as a helpful (to the extreme) guardian “angel”. Two extremely funny ladies are wasted in underwritten roles. Kate Micucci (of the team Garfunkle and Oates) screeches and stumbles as the diner waitress, while Janeane Garofolo verbally prods Hannigan as the agent/manager of Phyllis. However, SNL vet Bobby Moynihan has a nice low-key but warm spin on The Simpsons’ “Comic Book Guy” as a store owner credited as “Stanlee” (nice nod).

Director Lena Kahn may have been aiming for a warm family-friendly fantasy fable, but the chaotic screenplay by Brad Copeland (whose credits include the abysmal YOGI BEAR) thwarts her with too many clunky slapstick sequences (I’m guessing that the original book by Kate DiCamillo is more mellow). At least they steered clear of the constant genitalia injuries of last year’s putrid THE WAR WITH GRANDPA. Perhaps the film’s biggest problems start with the crude computer-animated co-star. His manic movement conveys a sense of weightlessness, especially as Ulysses curls around Flora’s neck. As he bounced from one calamity to the next, I recalled the Christmas TCM staple THE GREAT RUPERT from 1950. That performing squirrel was brought to magical life via George Pal’s team of stop-motion animator artisans (much like Rudolf or the 33′ King Kong). Sure that’s often clunky (watching the fur ruffle) tech, but the fellar’ has miles more charm than this pixel effect (he does a good mimic of the superhero landing “stance” though). And though this is set in modern times (the Roomba-style menace), some plot devices felt years out of touch. Would Phyllis really use an old typewriter (with a stuck “J” pad) to put her mind into an early 20th-century heroine? And could the local newspaper (probably not a daily) wreck her career (perhaps an online video interview that goes viral would be more now)? It seems only designed to put her in the mood to go after Ulysses. And just what are his powers? They’re whatever the story requires him to do, I’d guess. This forgettable flick might keep the wee ones quiet for a bit (the “figgits” will arrive soon), but there are so many better entertainments, even on this service (that don’t squander terrific comic talents) than the tepid tumults of FLORA & ULYSSES. I’ll stick with the team from Frostbite Falls, MN anyday.

1.5 Out of 4

FLORA & ULYSSES streams exclusively on Disney+ beginning Friday, February 19, 2021

Jim Batts was a contestant on the movie edition of TV's "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" in 2009 and has been a member of the St. Louis Film Critics organization since 2013.

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Movie Review – Flora And Ulysses

Principal cast : matilda lawler, alyson hannigan, ben schwartz, anna deavere smith, danny pudi, benjamin evan ainsworth, janeane garofalo, kate micucci, john kassir, darien martin, bobby moynihan. synopsis: the adventures of a young girl, and a squirrel with superpowers..

The latest popular children’s book to make the transition to live-action feature film, Kate DiCamillo’s genteel novel “Flora & Ulysses”, can best be described as both genteel and cute. Aimed squarely at younger children who found the Lady & The Tramp remake and the Chipmunk films entertaining, Lena Khan’s meandering and joyful take on the property has oodles of heart, plenty of amusing sight gags – an ongoing Titanic reference chief among them – and some quite delightful visual effects, not the least of which is the titular Ulysses, a cheeky all-CG superpowered squirrel who warms the heart and teaches us all a valuable lesson in friendship and family. The film might colour well within the lines, and offers sentimental Disney at its most saccharine, but the enthusiasm Flora & Ulysses exudes for its subject matter, together with winning performances from the entire cast, make for uplifting if not altogether exciting viewing.

Self-described cynic and comic book geek Flora (Matilda Lawler – Evil ) lives with her romance author mother Phyllis (Alyson Hannigan – American Pie, How I Met Your Mother ) and dreams of her parents getting back together. Her father, George (Ben Schwartz), an aspiring comic book artist, has left after hitting a creative abyss, which Phyllis tried to fill but couldn’t. One day, Flora meets a tiny squirrel, Ulysses, who is nearly killed after an automated vacuum cleaner accident. Upon his revival, Ulysses exhibits some cool superpowers, including flight and the ability to type English onto a typewriter; Flora is naturally excited and, together with George, and her new “blind” neighbour William Spiver (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth), they race to protect their furry friend from the dastardly machinations of local gamekeeper and squirrel destroyer Miller (Danny Pudi), who wants to kill Ulysses to protect the city from “squirrel rabies”.

Any film that opens with a comic-book-centric narrative and expectations of plot parallels within its contextualised superhero motifs has to deliver. Flora & Ulysses doesn’t quite , but it’s an enjoyable if aimless romp nonetheless. In spite of a sputtering, melancholy pacing and a whisper-quiet sense of humour, Flora & Ulysses offers the gleeful cutesy whim of a knock-off Paddington and the deeper, darker subtext belying its pastel-hued Disney+ sensibility. Brad Copeland (director of Ferdinand and Spies In Disguise ) takes up writing duties here, shoehorning in some competent young adult themes of inclusivity, family, loss (William Spiver’s backstory is quite the dark opus!) and friendship, but at no point does the film really grab hold of a singular theme and contort it to an appropriate level of usefulness. Instead, Copeland’s script, while sporadically enthusiastic, tends to half-ass its way through maudlin tropes and self-congratulatory humour, often hindered by inconclusive character motivation and an all-too-cheesy villain in Danny Pudi.

One can sense homages to a number of other (better) films here, including Birdman , Batman , the Shaun The Sheep Movie , Paddington and a slew of others I probably missed, and the aforementioned Titanic gag references pay off in quite a lovely and unexpectedly brutal way. The material the film is drawing from is a children’s text so you’d expect it to paint with wider and brighter colours than a film aimed at adults, but even I was surprised at just how pastoral and softly spoken the film appeared to be. The action sequences elicit some joy and wonder but lack vigour, whilst the CG effects work on Ulysses the squirrel are roundly magnificent, arguably the best aspect of the film. It’s quite dispiriting, really, to have a children’s film feel so inert, particularly after a strong opening setup, with not even the frankly mundane climactic moments of confrontation between Ulysses and Pudi’s Miller, the “huntsman” of this fairy tale able to muster much more than a cheery shrug. Pudi does his best as the teeth-gnashing, conniving animal control character intent on capturing and slaying Ulysses, but he feels somewhat out of place in a film tackling the themes Copeland’s script attempts to do.

The actors themselves aren’t to blame here, not that I can see. Lead actress Matilda Lawler is a relative newcomer to the industry and given what she produces here she’s got a bright future ahead of her: precocious and endearing without being overly mawkish or wooden, alongside fellow kid actor The Haunting Of Bly Manor’s Ben Evan Ainsworth, Lawler is eminently watchable and acquits herself well with the meandering material. Alyson Hannigan plays Flora’s weary, despondent mother with the frowny-face maternally destitute well, while Ben Schwartz is as close to comedy gold as Flora & Ulysses comes, as the scattered and physically clownish George. Minor roles to Anna Deavre Smith, Janeane Garofalo and Kate Micucci offer some width to proceedings but ultimately form no platform for the story to really grow, leaving the lion’s share of work to be performed by Lawler and her CG co-star. For his part, Ulysses is cute as a button and obviously designed for plenty of “awwww” moments from younger audience members, and the CG is by-and-large flawless in this regard; sadly, though, the storytelling around Ulysses’ powers and his development as a character with his name in the title is obstinately bland. I mean, it’s a computer generated squirrel, for Pete’s sake, and the film goes out of its way to make him uninteresting, or rather, underdeveloped . Even the moments he does exhibit some kind of power feels inadequate and kinda flat, which does nothing for the “fun” the film is supposed to engender.

Flora & Ulysses is really rather boring, despite its earnest plot and characters, and riffing on any number of “cute-and-intelligent animal in danger” film topes only manifests how inadequate the movie is compared to those many, many other films. Sure, Disney’s approach to this kind of subgenre – Snow Dogs and Air Bud come to mind as examples of terrible examples – isn’t breaking new ground cinematically, and Flora & Ulysses sure ain’t breaking new ground even within this archetype. The film does satisfy on most minor levels, and the message it delivers to children sits right inside the Disney wheelhouse, but there’s a mismatch between the humour, adventure and human relationship angles that stumbles and staggers when it should soar. I did enjoy Flora & Ulysses , but I doubt I’ll ever feel the need to watch it again.

Who wrote this?

Rodney Twelftree

If you’re reading this, you’ve now learned that Rodney loves movies and will continue to write about them until he falls over dead. And even then he’ll have some content scheduled post-mortem.

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Critic’s Pick

‘Flora & Ulysses’ Review: A Hero Tale That Lets the Fur Fly

A 10-year-old cynic, a bushy-tailed superhero and a cast stacked with beloved comic actors make this lovable Disney film something to see.

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By Maya Phillips

One thing Disney’s taught us in the last couple years is that superheroes come in all shapes and sizes, whether they’re hulking large or microscopic . And sometimes they’re small and furry.

In the lovable film “Flora & Ulysses,” based on the novel of the same name , a young comic book fan stumbles into her own extraordinary adventure. Flora (a criminally adorable Matilda Lawler) is a 10-year-old self-proclaimed cynic. Why? Her parents, an author of bodice-rippers who’s suffering from writer’s block (Alyson Hannigan) and a failed comic book writer (Ben Schwartz), are separated. But a near-fatal accident between an ordinary squirrel and a rogue household appliance grants Flora her own superhero, Ulysses, a bushy-tailed wonder with super strength, intelligence and — “holy unanticipated occurrences!” — the ability to fly.

Flora is captivating, as is her world, full of costumes and capes; she sees heroes soar past her on the street, and in a blink her world changes from 3-D to whimsical 2-D comic illustrations. There’s plenty of laughs too; Brad Copeland, who wrote the screenplay, adeptly combines quippy banter and zany physical comedy (even from a cute C.G.I. rodent). Lena Khan’s direction taps into the good-natured looniness, but so does the cast, which includes a superheroic lineup of comedy powerhouses: Danny Pudi, Bobby Moynihan, Janeane Garofalo, Kate Micucci and even the stage and screen great Anna Deavere Smith.

There are some small gaffes. Hannigan and Schwartz have fun as the playful parents but lack chemistry and never seem quite comfortable in the roles. And a British neighbor boy (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) feels like one eccentric character too many.

“Flora & Ulysses” veers close to falling into the trap of cheesiness that kids’ movies of this genre often find themselves in, but miraculously never does. In fact, this hopeful comedy, in showing how a twitchy-tailed hero can change a family, lifts off and flies.

Flora & Ulysses Rated PG. Running time: 1 hour 35 minutes. Watch on Disney+ .

Maya Phillips is a New York Times critic at large. She is the author of the poetry collection “Erou” (Four Way Books, 2019) and "NERD: On Navigating Heroes, Magic, and Fandom in the 21st Century,” forthcoming in summer 2022 from Atria Books. More about Maya Phillips

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Screen Rant

Flora & ulysses review: an underwhelming, empty film that lacks charm.

Flora & Ulysses has all of the right ingredients, but falls short of bringing them all together, leaving the film an uncharismatic and empty shell.

Slapstick humor, when done well, can be a joy to watch. Throw in a skeptical little girl and her superhero pet and it sounds like a recipe for a heartwarming and endearingly sweet and engaging family film. Somehow, Flora & Ulysses , which is directed by Nina Khan from a screenplay by Brad Copeland, misses the mark in what should have been an entertaining and fun film. Flora & Ulysses has all of the right ingredients, but falls short of bringing them all together, leaving the film an uncharismatic and empty shell.

Based on the children’s novel by Kate DiCamillo, Flora & Ulysses follows the story of Flora (Matilda Lawler), a ten-year-old with a penchant for comics and superheroes. Her father George (Ben Schwartz), a down-on-his-luck comic book writer, and mother Phyllis (Alyson Hannigan), a romance novelist suffering from writer’s block, are separated and trying to figure things out. Flora, a self-proclaimed cynic, refuses to hope anymore. That is, until a regular old squirrel named Ulysses is sucked into a vacuum and emerges with superpowers, thus changing Flora’s life forever. She tries to keep him a secret for a while, but Ulysses is spotted and that’s when his journey as a superhero — who now has his own villain in an animal control worker played by Danny Pudi — fully begins.

Related: Every New Movie & TV Show Releasing On Disney+ In 2021

The biggest unbelievability factor isn’t that Ulysses suddenly has superpowers. Rather, the issue stems from Flora’s cynical perspective. The audience is expected to believe that a ten-year-old has no sense of optimism or hope. Yes, her parents are going through a rough patch and might get divorced, but that subplot is contrived and lacks a more thorough exploration of what that means for Flora and how it affects her emotionally. Her being a cynic is surely meant to be a cute and even humorous aspect of the story, but it’s a stretch, especially since the film curtails this very notion with its tone.

Flora & Ulysses generally lacks a lot of the magic and emotional investment that makes such family-friendly films worth watching at any age. The film relies too heavily on the CGI squirrel to bring the heart and humor to the story rather than the other way around. Flora becomes a mentor of sorts to Ulysses, convinced that every superhero has a purpose and therefore she must train him and help him figure out what that purpose will be. She’s helped along by her neighbor William (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth), whose temporary blindness is exploited for some slapstick humor that is wholly unnecessary.

Flora doesn’t particularly need Ulysses to figure things out or to find some light in the admittedly not-so-dark tunnel of her life, but she is certainly convinced that she does. The plot would have worked much better if it wasn’t so thinly developed and emotionally empty, with several of the film’s runtime wasted in an overdrawn chase led by the reliably funny Pudi, whose antics here aren’t enough to save the film from its lack of charm. Lawler does an outstanding job bringing Flora to life, but the material doesn’t support her exuberant performance.

The film transforms into a thrilling comedy adventure that is only invested in Flora on a superficial level, with its attention primarily on the idea of superheroes as hopeful figures; Ulysses is an example of how they can, according to Flora, save metaphorical lives. Considering that this is a Disney film, Flora & Ulysses spends a lot of time referencing other notable superheroes now owned by the company, including Spider-Man. In a strange, roundabout way, the film leans into the corporate machine that is angling toward superheroes being these much-needed saviors, be they fictitious or not.

Next: The Most Anticipated Movies of 2021

Flora & Ulysses is available to stream on Disney+ on February 19. The film is 95 minutes long and is rated PG for some mild action and thematic elements.

Let us know what you thought of the film in the comments!

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Flora & Ulysses Movie Review: A Tale Of Hope, Love, & A Superhero Squirrel

February 17, 2021 By Ashley Leave a Comment

Flora & Ulysses is a funny, heartwarming story about a young girl and a rescue squirrel who happens to have super powers. Throughout their adventurous mishaps they discover the power of hope and love and how super it can be when you truly believe in yourself.

Flora & Ulysses Movie Review

Flora & Ulysses , based on the Newbery Award-winning book, follows 10-year old Flora (Matilda Lawler), an avid comic book fan and a self-avowed cynic, as she navigates a world where her parents have recently separated. Her mother Phyllis (Alyson Hannigan) is a romance novelist in the midst of a writer's slump. While her father, George (Ben Schwartz), is a former comic book writer turned electronics store employee.

After an encounter with her neighbor's runaway robot vacuum, Flora rescues a squirrel whom she names Ulysses. While hiding him away from her mother, she begins to tell Ulysses about Incandesto one of her father's superhero creations. She is amazed to discover that Ulysses now has superhero powers. Together they embark on an amazing adventure of self-discovery where they learn to believe in themselves and the power of hope. This will ultimately change Flora and Ulysses' lives forever.

Overall the story feels right at home with classic human and animal best friend movies. Girl meets squirrel and their lives and the lives of those around them are changed for the better. And although the classic animal buddy film tropes are there, Flora & Ulysses puts a new spin on things by adding in the superhero genre for a lot of laugh-out-loud moments.

The film itself feels grounded in reality even with the focus being on a superhero squirrel. Like the mom's work room, there is very little in the way of technology even though it is set during our time. All of that, the cinematography, shooting locations, and even the house evoke memories of a simpler time when nothing mattered more to us than whatever was in our imaginations.

RELATED: Godmothered Movie Review: You're Never Too Old For Happily Ever After

Flora is a curious cynic, a child who may not have any superpowers but wants to embody all the reasons people revere super heroes. She wants to take the wisdom her father penned in his comics, like the importance of helping those in need and finding courage when all seems dark, and put them into practice. Matilda Lawler absolutely shines in this role, bringing Flora to life in a brilliant and charming way.

Young girls everywhere will see themselves in this adventurous, smart, and kind protagonist. And I can't help but smile thinking about how this movie will be a game changer for those kids who love to read comics. I know I would have loved to see someone, especially a girl, reading comics and going on adventures like this when I was a kid.

Alyson Hannigan and Ben Schwartz bring a warmth to their roles as Flora's parents. They love and support and are not afraid to admit when they are wrong. Something all grownups need to be reminded of from time to time, it's okay to say “I messed up. I am sorry.” Their acceptance of her mission and commitment to helping her is heartwarming to see as too often parents are portrayed as aloof or too busy to help go on a squirrel rescuing mission.

Rounding out the cast are some other familiar names and faces. Ben Schwartz who voices Dewey on Duck Tales is joined in this one by his duck family co-stars Danny Pudi who plays Ulysses' nemesis, Bobby Moynihan who happens to be reading a Duck Tales comic when we first see him, and Kate Micucci the waitress who has a hilarious encounter with Ulysses. They each bring their own comedic charm to their characters, providing many hilarious moments.

Comic book movie fans and readers alike will enjoy spotting the various callbacks to classic characters. Clearly Ulysses has been reading up on those heroes as one of his first moves he shows Flora resembles Spider-Man hanging upside down on his web. And although he can fly, leap, backflip, and even communicate with humans, his most significant superpower is loving Flora with all his little heart. And the feeling is mutual for Flora and for the audience.

Flora & Ulysses is something the whole family will enjoy watching together. This film combines comic books, life lessons, lots of laughs, and plenty of action. It is an absolutely fun and incredibly sweet story that at its heart is a beacon of hope. Flora and Ulysses have come to remind us all that the greatest superpower of all is love.

Flora & Ulysses is coming to Disney+ February 19, 2021

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Flora & Ulysses Parent Guide

Given disney's ability to create convincing and lovable rodents, it's no surprise that this squirrel superhero has so much charm..

Disney+: When Flora adopts a squirrel she names Ulysses, she has no idea that he is going to develop superpowers.

Release date February 19, 2021

Run Time: 91 minutes

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The guide to our grades, parent movie review by kirsten hawkes.

“All superheroes come to us with a purpose,” explains 10 year old Flora Buckman (Matilda Lawler), “to save those in need. But they all have one thing in common. They never show up in the real world.” Flora’s expertise in the spandex-clad world of superheroes comes from her father (Ben Schwartz), an aspiring comic book artist with a fertile imagination and zero commercial success. Neither of them realize that they have a limited view of life’s possibilities – and they are going to be surprised when a furry little superhero enters their lives…

Pursued and hoovered up by a rogue robotic vacuum cleaner, a squirrel somehow absorbs some of the machine’s artificial intelligence. Rescued by Flora, the little critter, who she names Ulysses, learns to read, type, compose poetry, and develop some unexpected powers. As his unusual abilities strengthen, Ulysses seeks his purpose, while acquiring an unexpected adversary….

With Flora & Ulysses, Disney presents the holy grail of family movies – a story kids will love and adults won’t hate. There’s lots here for kids to enjoy, particularly the frequent scenes of comic mayhem caused by the remarkable squirrel. As for adults, there are enough wry jokes to provide unexpected laughs and a story that provides positive messages without becoming too syrupy. The movie leans hard into themes of emotional resilience and connection as well as the importance of families and the need for kindness and neighborliness. Adapted from Kate DiCamillo’s Newbery Medal winning novel of the same name, Flora & Ulysses is a reminder that good material is the best foundation for a successful film.

Thankfully, the movie’s fun comes with little in the way of downsides, except for preschoolers who might be frightened by scenes of minor violence. Frankly, the part of the film I found the most unsettling was the character of Flora’s friend, William Spiver (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth). The traumatized boy suffers from “ hysterical blindness ”, which he assures Flora will eventually be cured. I appreciate that William isn’t treated like a saintly, fragile, Tiny Tim character . But I am uncomfortable when his blindness is used for laughs, especially trip-and-fall scenes and times where his attempts to “echo-locate” become comic fodder. I’m not entirely sure if the movie is laughing with William or laughing at him and that’s an important distinction for children to grasp.

The rest of the film, however, is delightful. Matilda Lawler shines in the lead role, with authentic emotions and a real chemistry with Ulysses, whose computer generated personality is a solid achievement by Disney’s tech wizards. It’s easy to suffer from superhero fatigue; to say that there are too many caped crusaders in the cinematic universe already, but when you watch Ulysses typing his poetry or sharing his candy treat, it’s impossible to wish him away.

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Kirsten hawkes, watch the trailer for flora & ulysses.

Flora & Ulysses Rating & Content Info

Why is Flora & Ulysses rated PG? Flora & Ulysses is rated PG by the MPAA for some action and mild thematic elements

Page last updated October 2, 2021

Flora & Ulysses Parents' Guide

Loved this movie try these books….

This movie is based on Kate DiCamillo’s beloved novel, Flora & Ulysses. Ms. DiCamillo is also the author of The Tale of Despereaux, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, Because of Winn-Dixie, The Magician’s Elephant, and The Tiger Rising.

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Coming to Disney+: February 2021

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‘Flora & Ulysses’: Review

By Stephen Whitty 2021-02-17T17:01:00+00:00

Disney’s superhero squirrel goes straight to plus

Source: Disney +

Flora & Ulysses

Dir: Lena Khan. US. 2021. 91 mins.

A boy and his courageous collie. A girl and her beautiful horse. A broken family and their superhero squirrel. That preposterous plotline doesn’t sound as if it’s quite in the tradition of Lassie Come Home or National Velvet , or even particularly ready-made for children’s matinees. But then, bypassing theaters, Flora & Ulysses is headed exclusively for streaming instead, premiering on Disney+ February 19. And judged by the somewhat relaxed, good-enough-for-home standard for children’s films – the kind that once gave us harmless, straight-to-video pictures like the Air Bud sequels – Flora passes, barely.

Based on a heavily illustrated book by Kate DeCimillo – whose earlier animal-centered and screen-friendly books include the better Because Of Winn-Dixie and The Tale Of Despereaux – this is the story of a wild little rodent who gets accidentally sucked into a vacuum cleaner. Strangely, he not only survives, but emerges transformed, able to leap tall trees in a single bound and dedicated to truth, justice, and typing out bad poetry. Not the superhero the world asked for or, frankly, even needed. But he provides an instant friend to sad 10-year-old Flora, who names him Ulysses. And, eventually, he finds his own mission – cheering up that little girl, inspiring her romance-novelist mother and bringing back the dad who, dejected by his own failures in the comic-book business, has abandoned the family to go sit and mope.

There’s not much more to the thin story than that, a problem Brad Copeland’s script tries to cover up with all sorts of extraneous characters. Some are almost ridiculously old-fashioned, like a comically villainous animal-control officer straight out of an Our Gang comedy. Others are less clichéd, but only because they’re made up of seemingly random details, like the posh English boy who’s staying with relatives for the summer, mourning his dead father, and suffering from hysterical blindness. Meanwhile, Flora herself feels straight from an old sitcom, always ready with a precocious putdown or some too-adorable exclamation (“Holy Bagumba!”)

But star Matilda Lawler works hard, trying to be as natural as the character and story’s contrivances let her. It’s pleasant to see Alyson Hannigan onscreen, too, as her winsome mother – if a bit surprising to see the formidable Anna Deavere Smith in the superfluous role of a sympathetic vet – and the supporting cast is plumped up with a long list of busy comic actors. As for Ulysses, the squirrel (or, more properly, the animators and effects technicians creating him and his antics) the furry little fellow is a computer-generated hurricane, demolishing coffee shops, bedrooms, living rooms and animal hospitals every 15 minutes or so, or whenever the film is starting to lose steam. Which ends up working out to be about the same thing.

As a stealth commercial for Disney intellectual properties (the sci-fi and comic-book background allow for endless Star Wars and superhero references) Flora & Ulysses is rather clever. And as a brief, brightly-coloured, virtual babysitter – lasting just long enough to keep the children diverted while you check in and out of that last Zoom meeting, and get dinner on the table – it dutifully fulfills its obligations. But anyone looking for much beyond that in this tale of a flying squirrel – well, they’d have to be nuts.

Production companies: Walt Disney Pictures, Netter Productions

Worldwide distribution: Disney+

Producer: Gil Netter

Screenplay: Brad Copeland, from the novel by Kate DiCamillo

Production design: Michael Fitzgerald

Editing: Jamie Gross

Cinematography: Andrew Dunn

Music: Jake Monaco

Main cast: Matilda Lawler, Alyson Hannigan, Ben Schwartz, Anna Deavere Smith.

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Flora & Ulysses: Movie Review

Flora & ulysses : movie review.

Fantasy, Adventure, Kids And Family, Comedy

February 19, 2021

Starring: Matilda Lawler, Alyson Hannigan, Ben Schwartz, Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, Danny Pudi, John Kassir, Darien Martin, Nancy Robertson, Janeane Garofalo, Kate MiCucci

Walt Disney Pictures

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Flora and Ulysses

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Rent Flora and Ulysses on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

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Agreeable if not exceptional, Flora and Ulysses offers a fun, funny, family-friendly diversion -- and a furry twist on the superhero genre.

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‘Flora & Ulysses’ Review: A Girl and Her Squirrel Wreak Havoc in Old-School Disney Original

Holy bagumba! Flora and fauna hit it off, as a lonely girl makes friends with a superpowered squirrel in this semi-animated Disney offering.

By Peter Debruge

Peter Debruge

Chief Film Critic

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Is there any career more unfairly represented in children’s movies than that of the animal control officer? In the rowdy new Disney Plus original “Flora & Ulysses,” Flora (Matilda Lawler) is a 10-year-old comic book savant, Ulysses is her unusually gifted CG squirrel (he can fly, for starters!) and overzealous officer Miller ( Danny Pudi ) is the only thing that stands between this beautiful friendship and a macabre fate for the cutie-patootie super-pet.

Technically, the title duo is only slightly less destructive than your average tornado. Nearly all the movie’s set-pieces involve breaking, spilling or otherwise upsetting tidy spaces, which is no doubt fun to watch if you are Flora’s age or younger, and the type of child who likes to play Godzilla with your Lego sets. It’s also somewhat impressive, if you pause to contemplate the task demanded of director Lena Khan , who had to orchestrate such pandemonium (involving lots of objects flying directly at the screen in slow motion) without the participation of a stunt squirrel — because Ulysses is a very special effect.

With his luxurious auburn fur, adorable tufted ears and capacity to make incredibly nuanced facial expressions — to say nothing of his penchant for poetry — Ulysses is but the latest computer-animated companion in a genre that dates back to “Stuart Little.” For the generation of parents who grew up on such vintage live-action Disney movies as “The Shaggy Dog” and “The Cat From Outer Space,” it’s simultaneously astonishing to see how far this technology has come (Ulysses really does look convincing) and disheartening to realize how little the storytelling has evolved (all the usual clichés still apply).

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Adapted from Kate DiCamillo’s illustrated YA novel by screenwriter Brad Copeland (“Wild Hogs” and the godawful “Spies in Disguise”), “Flora & Ulysses” presents its heroine as a “natural-born cynic,” which probably sounds very mature to young audiences but proves inconsistent with the overactive imagination on display. Wryly narrating the entire film — and shouting “Holy bagumba!” anytime something surprising happens — this consistently disobedient kiddo (whom Lawler makes lovable) spends most of her time reading comic books and daydreaming about superheroes.

Flora is unhappy about the recent separation of her parents, stressed-out romance novelist Phyllis (Alyson Hannigan) and underappreciated comic book creator George (Ben Schwartz) — which sets up another unreal Disney-movie convention: the idea that kids can or should play matchmaker for their parents. One day, while idling in the backyard, Flora observes as a rogue robot vacuum cleaner chases and ultimately inhales a hapless squirrel. She rushes in to give the poor rodent mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, saving its life in the process.

Flora dubs the critter Ulysses and takes him indoors, where he promptly sets about overturning her room. Around the same time, she befriends a boy her age named William Spiver (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth), who is temporarily impaired of sight and intermittently British of accent. William can’t see, which makes him a rather awkward sidekick, but once her squirrel destroys the local coffee shop (where comedian Kate Micucci plays a spastic waitress), Flora will need all the help she can get rescuing Ulysses from the clutches of … you guessed it, animal control.

Pudi plays officer Miller like one of the cocky cops from “Reno 911!,” laughably tough-acting behind his tinted aviator specs. He’s effectively a human cartoon character in a movie that’s most appealing when it shifts over to hand-drawn comic frames, and silly as much of the mayhem is, Khan deserves credit for translating such slapstick to live action. Boosted by composer Jake Monaco’s fantastical score, the entire production feels like a gateway drug for Disney’s Marvel franchise (although don’t expect Ulysses to cameo in an “Avengers” movie anytime soon).

It’s easy to imagine a different version of this story, in which the young viewers most enchanted by the notion of adopting one’s very own squirrel might be inspired to become veterinarians or SPCA workers themselves, since such jobs typically attract animal lovers. Instead, “Flora & Ulysses” reinforces the idea that it’s OK to adopt feral creatures, for whom the pound represents the equivalent of that hellacious garbage incinerator at the end of “Toy Story 3.” Empathy for animals is all well and good, but when it comes to discipline and consequences, this impish movie turns up its nose and exclaims, “Holy bagumba!”

Reviewed online, Los Angeles, Feb. 16, 2021. MPAA Rating: PG. Running time: 91 MIN.

Production: A Disney Plus release of a Walt Disney Pictures production. Producer: Gil Netter. Executive producers: Katterli Frauenfelder, James Powers.
Crew: Director: Lena Khan. Screenplay, story: Brad Copeland, based on the novel "Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures" by Kate DiCamillo. Camera: Andrew Dunn. Editor: Jamie Gross. Music: Jake Monaco.
With: Matilda Lawler, Alyson Hannigan, Ben Schwartz, Anna Deavere Smith, Danny Pudi, Benjamin Evans Ainsworth, Janeane Garofolo, Kate McCucci.

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Review: Flora and Ulysses

TV Editor Sian Allen goes nuts for Flora and Ulysses, a story of family, superheroes and terrible poetry.

Every couple of years, a new movie centering around at least one CGI rodent competes to be immortalised in the canon of fairly mediocre children’s cinema. There are a few stand-outs – Stuart Little remains the obvious choice, while G-Force remains, as ever, criminally overlooked. Now a new champion of endearingly average CGI rodent movies has entered the fray, and it comes in the form of Disney’s latest direct-to-streaming movie, Flora and Ulysses.

Flora and Ulysses , which is an adaptation of Kate DiCamillo’s children’s novel of the same name, is led by Flora (Matilda Lawler), a self-proclaimed cynic who has inherited a love of superheroes from her father, failed comic book artist George (Ben Schwartz). When a neighbour’s Ulysses brand vacuum goes haywire and an unassuming squirrel is sucked into it, Flora resuscitates the squirrel by giving it CPR, and it only gets weirder from there. The squirrel is named Ulysses after the household appliance that almost murdered it, and we are quickly thrown into a fun and wholesome squirrel superhero origin story that brings Flora’s family closer again after her parents’ recent separation.

Lawler and Schwartz in particular have a wonderful father-daughter relationship

The movie’s strengths, perhaps unsurprisingly, do not lie in the antics of Flora’s superpowered squirrel sidekick, who demonstrates powers ranging from super-strength to the ability to compose bad poetry. Flora & Ulysses is at its best when it is focusing on family. Alyson Hannigan is great as Flora’s frazzled mother Phyllis, a prolific romance novelist who is struggling to write her next bestseller. Plus, while the three of them have a great family dynamic in general, Lawler and Schwartz in particular have a wonderful father-daughter relationship as they bond over trying to protect Ulysses from being found by animal control officer Milner (Danny Pudi).

I would be lying if I said that the main draw to this movie for me wasn’t the cast. If you happen to be a fan of beloved cult vampire shows, NBC sitcoms that ran from 2009-2015 or the animated series DuckTales (as I am) then Flora & Ulysses is absolutely worth the watch as one giant crossover. I can’t quite put into words just how entertaining it is to watch Abed from Community play a Disney villain with a serious squirrel vendetta. It is also lovely to see Ben Schwartz shine in a more subtlety funny and mature role that is far removed from the obnoxious ridiculousness of Jean-Ralphio from Parks and Recreation .

The film tries to balance the zaniness of a superhero squirrel at the same time as telling a grounded family story

Yet, on the whole, I think Flora & Ulysses actually could have benefited from a touch more ridiculousness. The film tries to balance the zaniness of a superhero squirrel at the same time as telling a grounded family story, but as a result, Ulysses’ antics often feel like they are getting in the way of the larger narrative. There is a car chase scene about mid-way through the movie that has a fun gimmick but stalls quickly without going anywhere. I would have loved Milner’s hatred of squirrels to have been even more exaggerated. Even Ulysses’ super strength and flight feel underused, as it is his poetry writing that is somehow his most integral contribution to the plot.

Flora & Ulysses also insists on reminding you just how many franchises Disney owns now, as references to X-Men, Star Wars and Marvel in general are abundant throughout. On some level this does makes sense given Flora and her dad’s love of superheroes – it is cute that her favourite is her dad’s creation, Incandesto. But when Flora tells her father ‘I love you 3000,’ it feels like a hollow parroting of Avengers: Endgame that tarnishes an otherwise heartfelt scene.

Flora & Ulysses is a sweet, touching, and often funny film

Despite the somewhat shoehorned-in references and the subpar squirrel antics, Flora & Ulysses is a sweet, touching, and often funny film. Hannigan and Schwartz have such great chemistry, it’s easy to root for their reunion just as Flora does. Furthermore, it is truly staggering that one of the most poignant lines I’ve heard in a film recently – ‘You are the ever-expanding universe to me’ – was delivered by a CGI squirrel. Though a lot of my enjoyment of the film and its performances comfortably rested on the fact that I already love so many of these actors, I was also glad to be introduced to Matilda Lawler, who does an amazing job carrying the movie. We need more protagonists that are self-possessed, passionate little girls with big imaginations.

Flora & Ulysses is a fun, lighthearted romp that flies by at only an hour and a half. Even if I doubt it will be remembered as one of Disney’s better offerings – or as a champion of the CGI rodent sub-genre – it is both entertaining and heart-warming largely thanks to Lawler’s brilliant and charming performance. Watch it for the lovely family story at its heart, and not for the superpowered squirrel.

Flora and Ulysses is available to stream on Disney+.

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‘Flora & Ulysses’ Review: Cynics, Prepare to Be Won Over by a Superhero Squirrel on Disney+

Kate erbland, editorial director.

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Don’t let self-professed cynic Flora Buckman fool you: This savvy 10-year-old still has a taste for magic underneath her world-weary outer shell. Tucked alongside all her distaste for things like “hope” — ew — the precocious kiddo (a charming Matilda Lawler) can’t quite shake her obsession with all things comic book and, more precisely, all things superheroic. Recent life events have dinged her optimism a bit, and while it may be easier to move through the world filled with nothing but suspicion, that only means that when good things do happen, they feel really, really good.

Such is the lesson of Lena Khan’s good-hearted “Flora & Ulysses,” a tonally faithful adaptation of Kate DiCamillo’s novel of the same name. Screenwriter Brad Copeland has altered some of the book’s dramas, though the overall look and feel of the story remains: Gussied up with the antics of an animated superhero squirrel, it’s really about facing deeply human challenges head on. It’s a strong fit for Disney + and its fledgling original film slate, which traffics in younger-skewing offerings with important lessons for the little ones. So far, it’s seen mixed results. For every charmer like “Stargirl” or “The One and Only Ivan,” there’s a “Safety” or a “Godmothered” (or, heaven forbid, an “Artemis Fowl” ) there to temper the Mouse House’s original streaming quality.

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“Flora & Ulysses” falls firmly into the former category: an inventive, sweet story filled with classic storytelling beats and enough new fluff to appeal to a wide audience. Again, we’re talking animated superhero squirrel , and he’s not even the main attraction here.

Flora dedicated her young life to cynicism with good reason. Her creatively minded parents, George (Ben Schwartz) and Phyllis (Alyson Hannigan), are burned out in their careers and in their marriage. Romance novelist Phyllis can’t find the spark, and her beloved “Jack and Rose” award (so named for the love-crossed heroes of “Titanic”) only serves to remind her of all the (literal) flames she’s lost. Comic-book creator (of course!) George has all but given up on his dreams of building new heroes. The Buckmans are newly separated, clearly still in love with each other, and it’s Flora who is taking the brunt of their emotional upheaval. (Her favorite book is “Terrible Things Can Happen to You!,” part guidebook, part terrifying look into the heart of life’s many darknesses.)

Enter Ulysses: a tiny squirrel, ingloriously sucked up by a rogue vacuuming robot, and literally spat back into Flora’s eager hands. What if, superhero expert Flora wonders, the trauma of the robot disaster has gifted the incredibly cute, accident-prone squirrel his own powers? Believably rendered in solid CGI — other animals do appear in the film, including a very angry cat, but none look quite so real as the young squirrel — Ulysses promptly captures Flora’s secretly tender heart, and the audience’s to boot.

Set in the anonymously suburban world of so many Disney outings, Flora has plenty going on beyond the possibly super-powered squirrel hiding in her treehouse. There’s her parents’ relationship and their lingering professional worries (if nothing else, Flora is believably averse to artistic careers), followed by the introduction of new neighbor William (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) who is suffering from “hysterical blindness” and has his own deep family secrets. There’s also the inevitable mean game warden (Danny Pudi) who has set his sights on Ulysses, who he (somewhat understandably) believes is rabid, not special. Lawler, an appealing young star, grounds the film’s wackier elements and lends sweetness to circumstances that often threaten to turn nutty for the hell of it.

The adventures that follow are mostly predictable, from attempting to outsmart the warden to Flora’s quest for Ulysses’ greater purpose (this involves writing poetry and flying; he’s a deeply talented squirrel, to be sure). All are couched in the kind of lessons endemic to young audience-focused fare, but “Flora & Ulysses” approaches them with enough affection to feel fresh. Copeland’s script gently moves attention away from the book’s ostensible villain (Phyllis, awkward) and into less thorny territory, but Khan and Copeland still seem eager to test some heady ideas.

Phyllis and George’s problems, from their struggling marriage to their stalled-out careers, might sound like adult conflicts, but Khan’s film understands how parents’ issues inevitably trickle down to their kids. William transcends the role of quirky sidekick and gets the time to explore his own tough stuff, aided by a softening Flora and the “magic” of Ulysses. Every kid might dream about having a superhero friend (a squirrel, even better!), but “Flora & Ulysses” offers that movie-ready plot alongside the undeniable power of being understood (something even animated squirrels appear to desire).

We can’t all have a supeheroic squirrel to help find our own purposes in life, but “Flora & Ulysses” posits that we don’t need one — just a willingness to welcome their special kind of magic, in whatever shape it may take. Cynics, beware, “Flora & Ulysses” is coming for you.

“Flora & Ulysses” starts streaming on Disney+ on Friday, February 19.

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Flora & ulysses (2021) review, once your children watch flora & ulysses, they will be begging you for a poetry writing, superhero squirrel.

There is a saying in Hollywood - "Never work with children or animals". However, if you are cast in a Disney production, chances are you will probably work with one or the other or if you are really lucky, both. For Alyson Hannigan ( Buffy The Vampire Slayer ) and Ben Schwartz ( Sonic The Hedgehog ), the latter version became true when they decided to sign on to play the parents in the new live-action Disney film, Flora & Ulysses . Based on the children's book of the same name, Flora and Ulysses tells the tale of a remarkable squirrel (Ulysses) and the ten-year-old girl (Flora) who helps him.

Flora (Matilda Lawler; The Block Island Sound) is an intelligent, comic book reading, self-proclaimed cynic who lives with her mother, Phyllis (Hannigan), a romance novel writer currently suffering from writer's block. Flora's father, George (Schwartz), is a failed artist and comic book writer, who is separated from Phyllis. When Flora hears a cry for help outside, she runs to find her neighbor frantically chasing a vacuum cleaner. Joining in, the two watch as the cleaner sucks up a little squirrel. Rescuing him from the canister of the machine, Flora sneaks the squirrel inside the house and names him Ulysses.

Ulysses, staying out of sight to avoid Phyllis, vigorously nods his head when Flora speaks to him making the girl realize Ulysses is not only intelligent but also has the makings of a superhero. When Flora goes to her dad for help, he aids Flora in concealing Ulysses from the Animal Shelter worker, Miller (Danny Pudi; Community ), who has been tasked with capturing the squirrel.

Eventually, Flora, George, and Phyllis realize that Ulysses isn't a normal squirrel but a poem-writing, superhero squirrel who must be rescued from the animal shelter before he is put to sleep so his brain can be tested for rabies. As they race against time and Miller to save the squirrel, Flora learns to understand her mother better and Phyllis and George rekindle their marriage.

Lawler is a star and a solid actress despite her young age. She lights up the screen and invites the audience into her world. Hannigan and Schwartz manage to not have their scenes severely stolen by Lawler and the squirrel and are believable as Flora's parents. Vocal talent, John Kassir ( Tales from the Crypt - voice) is excellent as he creates all of Ulysses' "voices". Anna Deveare Smith ( The American President ) and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth ( The Haunting of Bly Manor ) round out this cast and add some sweet and funny moments to the film.

While some of the CGI is very well done, the work that went into creating Mr. "Claws" the cat wasn't enough. The animal looks fake and almost like a caricature of a mean cat. He reminded me of the computer-created look of Garfield when that movie was made in 2004. It is funny - but not in a good way - and unfortunately becomes a little distracting.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I read the synopsis for Flora and Ulysses but I must admit the movie offered so much more than I could have imagined. It was cute (both Flora and Ulysses are adorable), funny with some laugh-out-loud moments, heartwarming, and well-acted. For a Disney film, you can't really ask for more than that, and this time, Disney delivers! This is a family-friendly film that everyone will enjoy and definitely worthy of your time. It will become a new classic that your children will love.

BE FOREWARNED parents - once your children watch Flora and Ulysses, they will be begging you for a poetry writing, superhero squirrel!

Matilda Lawler ,
Alyson Hannigan ,
Ben Schwartz ,
Anna Deavere Smith ,
Danny Pudi ,
Benjamin Evans Ainsworth ,
Janeane Garofolo ,
Kate McCucci

For more information about Flora & Ulysses visit the FlickDirect Movie Database . For more reviews by Allison Rose please click here.

Allison Rose, a Senior Correspondent and Critic at FlickDirect, is a dynamic presence in the entertainment industry with a communications degree from Hofstra University. She brings her film expertise to KRMS News/Talk 97.5 FM and broadcast television, and is recognized as a Tomatometer-Approved Critic . Her role as an adept event moderator in various entertainment industry forums underscores her versatility. Her affiliations with SEFCA, the Florida Film Critics Circle, and the Online Film Critics Society highlight her as an influential figure in film criticism and media.

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Disney+’s Flora And Ulysses Review: An Adorable And Feel-Good Movie For The Whole Family

The current era of Disney has been greatly been defined by two things: photorealistic CGI animals, and the domination of the Marvel universe. Following the company’s big ambitions to recreate Pride Rock in the African Savannah or bring together a decade’s worth of worldbuilding into one epic finale that was Avengers: Endgame , it’s fun to see how both these sides of the House of Mouse can come together on a smaller scale to make a good old-fashioned family flick like Lena Khan's Flora and Ulysses.

The Disney+ film is based on the beloved children’s novel of the same name by Kate DiCamillo, who is also known for writing Because of Winn-Dixie and The Tale of Despereaux before they became movies. Flora and Ulysses centers on a young Flora (Matilda Lawler), a self-proclaimed cynic who finds some optimism alongside a spunky squirrel named Ulysses while going back and forth between separated parents – a comic book writer ( Ben Schwartz ), and romance novelist ( Alyson Hannigan ). The movie makes for a fun-enough and simple adventure, filled with a playfulness that kids will enjoy and may spark the inner child in adults.

Flora And Ulysses has a whimsical concept that is handled all in good fun.

The best part about Flora and Ulysses is how it manages to live in the imagination of the tale while keeping its feet on the ground. We’ve seen the CGI-animal card trick from Disney a lot recently, particularly thanks to the live-action remakes of animated classics, but Ulysses has an originality and fun about him that makes for a unique use of the formula. In this instance, Ulysses is being looked at in Flora’s comic-reader’s eyes as a superhero who is playing out his origin story.

Ulysses is an intriguing creature to follow throughout the story, but what’s even more fun is the adventure and situations it creates for the live-action characters within the film. It possesses the childhood energy of running around the neighborhood of friends and family with illusions of alternate identities and purposes for the surrounding world. It emits creativity and imagination that very seldom has a place in family films these days. Flora and Ulysses goes for high jinks and slapstick over dastard nostalgia and depth, and that's just what we want to see from Disney every so often.

The charming cast is Flora and Ulysses’ secret weapon.

Ulysses is an adorable squirrel throughout the film, but the element that will win you over is the cast. How I Met Your Mother ’s Alyson Hannigan plays at being an awkward and downbeat mother, whilst Ben Schwartz shines as Flora’s fun-time father, who shifts away from his life in adulthood to follow along on her quest with Ulysses. Once the parents get involved, it allows the family to confront some of what’s going on with them in an entertaining way. It’s especially fun to see Schwartz and Matilda Lawler play together. It's not easy to make this kind of concept work, but the cast and director Lena Khan bring it to life as gracefully as they can.

There’s also an all-star supporting cast, including Community ’s Danny Pudi and SNL ’s Bobby Moynihan. Flora and Ulysses leans into the ridiculous and exaggerated side of comedy by enlisting these expert improvisers, and it comes through well if you possess an appreciation for the goofy sensibilities.

There’s a lot to love in Flora And Ulysses for Marvel and Disney fans.

It’s also fun to see Disney play around with its Marvel toolbox for a story that is completely separate from the Marvel universe. Since it's rooted in comic book culture, the movie includes a wealth of Marvel references that will cleverly reel in more fans than a straight adaptation without these garnishes would have. Flora also gets to be part of the dawn of Disney’s first references to its new Marvel properties of the X-Men, Daredevil and Fantastic Four. This element makes for an especially cool aspect of the movie that kids and adults alike will enjoy looking out for during the movie.

And with superhero movies always cycling through rotation, there’s a comfort in seeing Disney change the pace for a concept about a woodland creature’s origin story with a young girl. Flora and Ulysses doesn’t take itself too seriously. Why would it? It's silly in the right kind of way. It's an airy adaptation of a classic book that may scurry right into your heart and serve as a great streaming option at home with family.

Sarah El-Mahmoud has been with CinemaBlend since 2018 after graduating from Cal State Fullerton with a degree in Journalism. In college, she was the Managing Editor of the award-winning college paper, The Daily Titan, where she specialized in writing/editing long-form features, profiles and arts & entertainment coverage, including her first run-in with movie reporting, with a phone interview with Guillermo del Toro for Best Picture winner, The Shape of Water. Now she's into covering YA television and movies, and plenty of horror. Word webslinger. All her writing should be read in Sarah Connor’s Terminator 2 voice over.

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Flora & Ulysses DVD Release Date
Flora & Ulysses Movie Review and Ratings by Kids
Flora & Ulysses (2021)
Flora and Ulysses Christian Movie Review with my Daughter!
Flora and Ulysses (2021)
Flora and Ulysses (2021)

COMMENTS

Flora and Ulysses (2021)
Neutral —Flora and Ulysses has become a favorite of my youngest as a better option against the vast landscape for his age group. The movie was not noteworthy for offensive language or inappropriate exposure or occultic content. There was plenty of slapstick scenes that were humorous; the animal catcher and the cat most particularly.
Flora & Ulysses Movie Review
Our review: Parents say ( 24 ): Kids say ( 21 ): This offbeat book-based film is as silly as you might expect from the premise, but it also packs a sneaky emotional punch. If you find yourself shedding a tear over the fate of, yes, a squirrel, chalk it up to the flawless, adorable animation of Ulysses and a mostly commanding performance by ...
Flora & Ulysses
Movie Review. Flora Buckman is a cynic. Just ask her. The 10-year-old wasn't always this way. Back when her dad drew comic-book superheroes and her parents were still living together, she was a big believer in stuff like hope and wonder. But no superhero came to save her dad, George, when publishers rejected his ideas.
Flora & Ulysses movie review & film summary (2021)
Flora & Ulysses. Kate DiCamillo's Newbery Award-winning novel about a girl who prides herself on being a cynic has been adapted into an unabashedly un-cynical and utterly winning film for families about that most unsung of superpowers: hope. Ten-year-old Flora (a very appealing Matilda Lawler ) narrates her own story, and it is clear she would ...
FLORA & ULYSSES
FLORA & ULYSSES is cute, touching and funny, with positive messages about hope and family, but the movie contains references to "the Universe," some slapstick comedy and lying. Narrated by Flora, the 10-year-old girl, the movie opens with Flora explaining her family's situation. Her mother, Phyllis, is a successful romance novelist.
Flora & Ulysses (2021)
Flora & Ulysses: Directed by Lena Khan. With Matilda Lawler, Alyson Hannigan, Ben Schwartz, Benjamin Evan Ainsworth. When Flora rescues a squirrel she names Ulysses, she is amazed to discover he possesses unique superhero powers, which take them on an adventure of humorous complications that ultimately change Flora's life and her outlook forever.
Flora and Ulysses Christian Movie Review with my Daughter!
#FloraAndUlysses #ChristianMovieReviewMy 10 year old daughter Tirzah joins me to review Flora and Ulysses on Disney + based off the children's book by Kate ...
Flora and Ulysses
Plot Summary. Ten-year-old Flora Belle Buckman is a self-proclaimed cynic who loves adventure comic books. One day, she sees the neighbor Tootie Tickham accidentally suck up a squirrel in her powerful new vacuum cleaner. In a recurring section of Flora's comic books called Terrible Things Can Happen to You, Flora has read how to perform CPR.
FLORA & ULYSSES
Flora frees him, but the critter bonds with her. Then she realizes that he has "super powers' (he follows her directions and can write poetry on her laptop. Now named Ulysses, Flora takes him to visit the only superhero expert she knows, good ole' daddy. He takes her to brunch at a local diner, unaware she has Ulysses stuffed in a schoolbag.
Movie Review
Alyson Hannigan plays Flora's weary, despondent mother with the frowny-face maternally destitute well, while Ben Schwartz is as close to comedy gold as Flora & Ulysses comes, as the scattered and physically clownish George. Minor roles to Anna Deavre Smith, Janeane Garofalo and Kate Micucci offer some width to proceedings but ultimately form ...
'Flora & Ulysses' Review: A Hero Tale That Lets the Fur Fly
Flora is captivating, as is her world, full of costumes and capes; she sees heroes soar past her on the street, and in a blink her world changes from 3-D to whimsical 2-D comic illustrations.
Flora & Ulysses (2021) Movie Review
Flora & Ulysses has all of the right ingredients, but falls short of bringing them all together, leaving the film an uncharismatic and empty shell. Slapstick humor, when done well, can be a joy to watch. Throw in a skeptical little girl and her superhero pet and it sounds like a recipe for a heartwarming and endearingly sweet and engaging ...
Flora & Ulysses Movie Review: A Tale Of Hope, Love, & A Superhero
Flora & Ulysses Movie Review. Flora & Ulysses, based on the Newbery Award-winning book, follows 10-year old Flora (Matilda Lawler), an avid comic book fan and a self-avowed cynic, as she navigates a world where her parents have recently separated. Her mother Phyllis (Alyson Hannigan) is a romance novelist in the midst of a writer's slump.
Flora & Ulysses Movie Review for Parents
With Flora & Ulysses, Disney presents the holy grail of family movies - a story kids will love and adults won't hate.There's lots here for kids to enjoy, particularly the frequent scenes of comic mayhem caused by the remarkable squirrel. As for adults, there are enough wry jokes to provide unexpected laughs and a story that provides positive messages without becoming too syrupy.
'Flora & Ulysses': Review
As for Ulysses, the squirrel (or, more properly, the animators and effects technicians creating him and his antics) the furry little fellow is a computer-generated hurricane, demolishing coffee ...
Flora & Ulysses: Movie Review
FLORA & ULYSSES is cute, touching and funny, with positive messages about hope and family, but the movie contains references to "the Universe," some slapstick comedy and lying. Narrated by Flora, the 10-year-old girl, the movie opens with Flora explaining her family's situation. Her mother, Phyllis, is a successful romance novelist.
Flora and Ulysses
Sep 13, 2021 Full Review Audrey Fox We Live Entertainment Bolstered by committed performances from the adults on board and one incredibly likable kid in the lead role, Flora & Ulysses is a light ...
'Flora & Ulysses' Review: A Girl and Her Squirrel Wreak Havoc
Editor: Jamie Gross. Music: Jake Monaco. With: Matilda Lawler, Alyson Hannigan, Ben Schwartz, Anna Deavere Smith, Danny Pudi, Benjamin Evans Ainsworth, Janeane Garofolo, Kate McCucci. Comments are ...
Flora & Ulysses (film)
Flora & Ulysses is a 2021 American superhero comedy-drama film directed by Lena Khan from a screenplay by Brad Copeland.It is based on the children's novel of the same name by Kate DiCamillo.The film stars Matilda Lawler, Alyson Hannigan, Ben Schwartz, Anna Deavere Smith, Danny Pudi, Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, Janeane Garofalo, and Kate Micucci while John Kassir provides the vocal effects of ...
Review: Flora and Ulysses
Lawler and Schwartz in particular have a wonderful father-daughter relationship. The movie's strengths, perhaps unsurprisingly, do not lie in the antics of Flora's superpowered squirrel sidekick, who demonstrates powers ranging from super-strength to the ability to compose bad poetry. Flora & Ulysses is at its best when it is focusing on ...
'Flora & Ulysses' Review: A Charming Superhero Squirrel on Disney+
February 17, 2021 12:00 pm. "Flora & Ulysses". Disney+. Don't let self-professed cynic Flora Buckman fool you: This savvy 10-year-old still has a taste for magic underneath her world-weary outer ...
Flora & Ulysses (2021) Review
Flora (Matilda Lawler; The Block Island Sound) is an intelligent, comic book reading, self-proclaimed cynic who lives with her mother, Phyllis (Hannigan), a romance novel writer currently ...
Disney+'s Flora And Ulysses Review: An Adorable And Feel-Good Movie For
The best part about Flora and Ulysses is how it manages to live in the imagination of the tale while keeping its feet on the ground. We've seen the CGI-animal card trick from Disney a lot ...

Flora and Ulysses

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