“The Big Trip,” also known as “The Big Trip 3D” and “Mission: Panda,” is a 2019 Russian computer-animated adventure comedy film directed by Vasily Rovensky and Natalya Nilova. Despite its commercial success in Russia upon its release on April 27, 2019, the film received overwhelmingly negative reviews worldwide. The movie’s premise revolves around an accidental mix-up involving a panda cub and the misadventures that ensue as a bear and a hare attempt to return the baby panda to its rightful parents.
An Unexpected Delivery Leads to an Unlikely Journey
When a stork’s delivery goes awry, a panda cub finds itself in the care of Mic-Mic, a grumpy Asiatic black bear, and Oscar, a talkative hare. The duo, initially ill-equipped for the task, takes on the mission of reuniting the panda cub with its true parents. Along their journey, they encounter a diverse cast of animal characters, leading to a series of comedic mishaps and challenges.
An Ensemble of Voice Talent
The film boasts a voice cast that brings life to its animal characters, both endearing and quirky. Dmitry Nazarov lends his voice to the grumpy bear Mic-Mic, while Maxim Galkin infuses personality into the chatterbox hare, Oscar. Vasily Rovensky Jr. voices the baby panda, and Philip Kirkorov adds his touch to Duke, the clumsy pelican. Diomid Vinogradov takes on multiple roles, including Janus, a cowardly wolf, Father panda, and a trio of golden snub-nosed monkeys.
Dubbing and International Reception
For the English-language version of the film, the cast includes Daniel Medvedev as Mic-Mic and Janus, Pauly Shore as Mic-Mic (redub), Stephen Thomas Ochsner as Oscar and Duke, and Drake Bell as Oscar (redub). Timothy John Joseph Sell voices Amur, while Bernard Carl Jacobsen and Katherine Marie Rommel portray Mr. and Mrs. Panda, respectively.
Despite its commercial success in Russia, “The Big Trip” encountered a different fate on the global stage. Critics’ reviews of the film ranged from lukewarm to outright scathing. Many criticized the film’s execution, comedic timing, and overall storytelling. The movie’s attempts at humor often fell flat, failing to resonate with international audiences.
A Journey with Missed Opportunities
“The Big Trip” had the potential to deliver a heartwarming and humorous adventure for audiences of all ages. Unfortunately, its lackluster execution and unimpressive comedic elements left many viewers unsatisfied. The film’s worldwide reception highlights the challenges of creating an animated feature that can appeal to diverse cultural backgrounds.
