‘It’s a jungle out there’ seemed to have been perfectly penned for our extrovert adventurer Dora (Isabela Moner) who spent her childhood years in the jungle, with her explorer parents. When they decide to send her to high school, that’s where her real test begins and she is in her mind acing it until she finds out that her parents have gone missing on an expedition.

Based on the successful animated series Dora The Explorer, the film tackles many subjects during its runtime and if you thought that it would be too childish like the source material, think again.

The story revolves around Dora and her friends who bond during an abduction that takes place after her parents disappear. With the help of her magical accessories (and adversaries), just like in the animated series, Dora tries to do exactly what Indiana Jones did 40 years back. The only difference between Indiana Jones and Dora is that Dora belongs to Generation Z, has typical teenage issues and is popular in her class as a geek. Indy, on the other hand, was the college professor!

Dora And The Lost City Of Gold tells you that being part of a team is always better than working alone; it also instructs the young audience out there to listen to their parents, always be positive and, best of all, stay away from rave culture.

The way Michael Peña described the last part is too hilarious and will make you forget that you were watching a film about Dora. He also steals the scene with his point of view when Dora breaks the fourth wall to talk to the audience, and he rejects it, hoping that she will grow out of it.

Directed by James Bobin, who is more famous for his Muppets movies, the film maintains its teenage charm throughout. Even when Dora and the Gang find themselves in a fix once they reach Parapata, they use their mind over muscle to be on their way.

The Lost City of Gold is worth a visit if you can handle it, solve the riddles and above all, stay positive so that in the end, you may come out empty-handed but not empty-minded! By O. A.

Published in Dawn, Young World, August 31st, 2019