Sonja Haller of USA Today would probably agree that the live action version of Dora the Explorer is already looking like something that might gain more laughs than was originally anticipated since out of all the the challenges that Dora has taken on throughout her time as a kids’ show, high school seems to be the one challenge she hasn’t taken on yet. A lot of people today can remember growing up with Dora and those that went on her various adventures with her, but those that are still unaware of just who she is and what she’s done are likely to be in for a surprise if they happen to sit down for this movie. It’s already starting off much like the show, save for the fact that when it comes to high school Dora seems to be absolutely lost, and she’s still speaking to people that aren’t there as many shows that try to be interactive have done for a while now. Basically, when asking someone that’s off screen a question it’s going to garner a few weird looks when the rest of the characters aren’t privy to the attempt at a fourth wall break.
That being said though the high school aspect of the movie doesn’t seem like it’s going to last quite as long since she, her cousin Diego, and a couple of classmates end up being kidnapped by a group of bad guys that want them to point the way to the fabled city of gold. At the same time Dora’s parents, played by Michael Pena and Eva Longoria, are also seeking the same city, which of course means that they will eventually meet up quite by accident and the adventure will be kicked up a notch. As you might be able to guess this is kind of a hit and miss with some people already since there are a few things about Dora that might not sit well with some folks. For one, as Allegra Frank of Vox has mentioned, Dora has been growing up with one adventure after another on the horizon and a need for good and reliable tools at her disposal at all times, such as a map, a backpack, flares, and of course a knife. In the suburban area she’ll be making her way to those items aren’t needed quite as much and her survival skills are less than adequate to take her through high school and a life spent in civilization where not everything is trying to kill you in one way or another.
The live action version so far would seem to indicate that the adjustment to civilization will be something that Dora will not take to immediately since it would seem that she’s going to rely heavily on her previous education, which might be great for the world she came from in the jungle, but isn’t quite as acceptable when living what many would call a more civilized life. It’s no doubt going to be a point of hilarity since in many ways it would be like watching a home-schooled individual attempt to acclimate to a public school setting, but Dora’s story will no doubt be a little more intense since she’s used to a lifestyle that is a lot wilder and likely a lot less forgiving of mistakes. That being said she’s still a kid’s show, even if the movie will no doubt bring in a few adult themes that some parents might balk at. In an era when more and more kids’ cartoons are being given the live action treatment and some of them are being upgraded from cute and innocent to slightly more serious it would seem that those that have any issue with Dora might need to suck it up and not watch the movie or watch it and realize that their criticism is more than likely going to be for their benefit and won’t be listened to by anyone else.
For two decades now Dora has been entertaining kids and has been seen as an educational and easily approved figure that a lot of people could get behind. But the live action is going to likely give a few people something to think about since not only is Dora a bit older now, but that would mean that she’s going to be displaying behaviors that some parents might not fully agree with. One thing to remember about this and any other movie is that it’s fiction, and while people want realism, they’re going to have to deal with the idea that, like it or not, a show that’s become a movie is going to to have to change a bit in order to get people in the seats. After all, if a person wanted to watch an animated version of Dora all they need to do is buy the videos and have at it. If you want to see Dora grow up, you don’t have much longer to wait.
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