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Isabela Moner stars as Dora in Paramount Pictures’ Dora and the Lost City of Gold. Photo courtesy of Vince Valitutti

Movie Review: Dora and the Lost City of Gold

Dora is all grown up in this movie rendition that teaches the power of positivity to audiences.

Come on, vamanos! Dora is back to face her hardest challenge yet—high school. Dora and the Lost City of Gold takes viewers on a ride through an epic journey to rescue Dora’s parents.

The film starts with a look into Dora’s (played by Isabela Moner) childhood with her archaeologist parents—played by Eva Longoria and Michael Peña—in the Amazon rainforest with her trusty monkey Boots and best friend Diego. After Diego and his family move to Hollywood, Dora spends her childhood going on adventures with Boots in the forest.

Cut to 10 years later, and Dora is still getting into hilarious hijinks in the jungle. When her parents announce they’re off on their biggest archaeology trip yet, to find Paparata, the lost city of gold, Dora is sent to live with Diego and his family in Hollywood. Saying goodbye to the jungle, high school proves to be a challenge for unwaveringly positive Dora, who often employs some of her catch phrases from the animated show to the scornful looks of her classmates. Unlike her peers, she doesn’t have any teenage angst, instead she has a relentless positivity and charm that her classmates don’t understand at first. Her best friend, Diego, has changed, becoming a high school student that takes himself just as seriously as his classmates, telling Dora “This is high school, it’s life or death.”

Soon after she arrives in Hollywood, Dora, Diego, and two classmates are thrust on a mission to rescue Dora’s parents, who have been captured by a group that wants to find and take the treasure that Dora’s parents have been searching to protect. A number of escapades ensue, including quicksand, booby traps, and water slides.

Dora and the Lost City of Gold focuses on a young hispanic girl, and teaches audiences the power of positivity and leadership. Parents will notice a few famous voices in the movie, with Benicio del Toro voicing Swiper the fox and Danny Trejo voicing Boots the monkey. The film maintains some of the most adored parts of the animated show, such as Dora speaking directly to the audience, as well as her map and backpack. Ultimately, Dora and the Lost City of Gold gives new viewers a chance to experience upbeat Dora and her lovable friends.

Rating: PG
Release Date: August 9

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