Luca
Movie, 2021, Originals, Set in The Italian Riviera
Luca is #24 of 31 in release order and #10 of 31 in chronological order in the Pixar.
The story
Luca and his best friend Alberto experience an unforgettable summer on the Italian Riviera. But all the fun is threatened by a deeply-held secret: they are sea monsters from another world just below the water’s surface.
Luca recap
Luca Paguro is a young sea monster who lives off the Italian Riviera and has been told humans are dangerous. On land, sea monsters look human while dry. Luca meets Alberto Scorfano, a sea monster living alone on an island, and the two dream of owning a Vespa. When Luca's parents threaten to send him to the deep, he runs away with Alberto to the town of Portorosso. They team up with Giulia Marcovaldo, a girl who wants to beat the local bully, Ercole, in the Portorosso Cup, a triathlon of swimming, pasta eating and cycling, to win money for a Vespa. Luca falls in love with the idea of going to school after Giulia shows him astronomy. Jealous, Alberto reveals his sea monster form to Giulia, and Luca pretends not to know him.
Luca ending explained
Luca races in the rain, and Alberto, caught by Ercole, is saved by Luca and Giulia; both boys are revealed as sea monsters. Giulia's father and the townspeople accept them, and they share the win. Alberto sells the Vespa to buy Luca a train ticket to go to school in Genoa with Giulia, and Alberto stays in Portorosso with Giulia's father.
Post-credits scenes
Yes. After the credits, Luca's uncle Ugo talks to a stray goatfish about his happy life in the depths of the ocean. It is a gag, not a setup.
Where to watch Luca
Luca is streaming on Disney+ in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 7.4/10, Rotten Tomatoes 91%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Soul, before Turning Red.
- Chronological order: after Soul, before Turning Red.
What to watch before Luca
In release order, 9 Pixar essentials come before Luca (2021), from A Bug's Life (1998) to Soul (2020).
Cast
- Jacob Tremblay as Luca Paguro (voice)
- Jack Dylan Grazer as Alberto Scorfano (voice)
- Emma Berman as Giulia Marcovaldo (voice)
- Saverio Raimondo as Ercole Visconti (voice)
- Maya Rudolph as Daniela Paguro (voice)
- Marco Barricelli as Massimo Marcovaldo (voice)
- Jim Gaffigan as Lorenzo Paguro (voice)
- Peter Sohn as Ciccio (voice)
- Lorenzo Crisci as Guido (voice)
- Marina Massironi as Signora Marsigliese (voice)
- Gino La Monica as Tomasso (Old Fisherman) (voice)
- Sandy Martin as Grandma Paguro (voice)
Directed by Enrico Casarosa.