A Sloth Story

is a genuine, salt-of-the-earth movie that tugged at my heartstrings. It’s an animated film that isn’t trying too hard, doesn’t rush through its character development, and has an old-fashioned animated villain for our hero to go up against in the final act. Directed by Tania Vincent from a screenplay she co-wrote with Ryan Greaves, A Sloth Story (originally called The Sloth Lane) is everything I could hope for in an animated film. It’s heartwarming, the occasionally funny moments aren’t shoehorned in, and the story has a solid message that plays into the fact the main characters are sloths.
A Sloth Story follows Laura (Teo Vergara), a young sloth who isn’t interested in being a stereotypical sloth like her family, who takes things slow and is not ashamed of it. The fast life isn’t for Laura’s mother Gabriella (Olivia Vásquez), who runs the family restaurant and whose recipe book is a cherished family heirloom, her father Luis (Ben Gorroño), who enjoys gardening, and brother Mani (Facundo Herrera), who doesn’t mind being bored. But Laura wants more for herself, favoring the fast life and not wanting to stay tied to her family’s food truck after moving to the city.
A Sloth Story’s Characters Are Wonderful & Relatable

The Voice Cast & Animation Vividly Bring Them To Life

The animated film is delightful. It’s driven by well-rounded characters who are simply trying their best while holding onto family traditions. Laura is the rebellious one in the family and she butts heads with her mother often, bringing to the surface issues that have bothered them both. Laura is a protagonist most audiences will relate to and the story allows her to make (somewhat frustrating) mistakes that she can learn from.

…the animation works in tandem with the actors’ expressive voices, providing animated character work that is as distinct as they are.

Gabriella, though worried about her daughter’s pushback regarding the family’s beloved recipe book, is not painted as some one-note parental villain. Laura and Gabriella’s story beats are touching and lovely; they’re the core of a narrative that is simple and so very effective. Even Dotti Pace (Leslie Jones), the villainous fast-food restaurateur who values money and speed above good food, has moments of humanity. The voice actors give outstanding performances that elevate their characters’ emotional arcs, while the animation works in tandem with the actors’ expressive voices, providing animated character work that is as distinct as they are.
A Sloth Story’s Themes Are Deep

The Animation Brings Everything Together

A Sloth Story is creative in its style and approach. Its animation is lovely, with the team adding some flair when it comes to color and the focus on food — the joy of making and eating it. The story is something the writers clearly put a lot of thought into and the effort shows. It’s a smaller release, which means it might not get the full love it deserves, but it’s a film that is worthy of it.
Crucially, the film has deep themes — about family and wanting something different from them while honoring traditions, about taking a slower approach to life instead of getting caught in the fast, capitalistic lane that demands we don’t rest or stop to enjoy the smaller things in life. The film ties these themes together without getting carried away and forgetting about the family at its heart.
A Sloth Story isn’t moving the needle when it comes to animations, but it’s able to bring an engaging story to life with lovely characters and a nice message. If anything, it falls short on its comedy, but it isn’t trying to be over-the-top with it either, which I appreciated. It’s better to chuckle at a couple of points than to wince at its humor. The film’s heart is certainly in the right place and the filmmakers’ lively commitment to the characters and narrative make it not only an enjoyable watch but a memorable one for kids and adults alike.

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A Sloth Story

7/10

Release Date

July 25, 2024

Pros & Cons

The story balances personal arcs with a fun villain
The character dynamics are great and layered