The One and Only Ivan: Heartwarming True Story (Disney+)

Ivan the Gorilla (voiced by Sam Rockwell) is the headliner for a circus located at a Portland shopping mall.  Owned and operated by Mack (Bryan Cranston), the circus had its glory days, but it's not doing well now.  Ivan's best friend is a mutt, Bob (voiced by Danny Devito), who sneaks in at night and sleeps on Ivan's belly, and another featured act at the zoo is an elephant named Stella (voiced by Angelina Jolie).  Ivan always ends the show by coming out and growling, standing up on his hind legs, and pounding his chest!  Ivan should win the AA because he's really a laid-back guy who isn't angry much. A daughter of one of the zoo's employees, Julia (Ariana Greenblatt), gives Ivan some crayons, and it turns out Ivan is a really good artist.  Mack decides that perhaps he can revive the circus using Ivan's artistic talent instead of him pounding his chest. The film is based on the Newberry-Medal-winning children's book by Katherine Applegate ("The One and Only Ivan" – 2012), and was inspired by true events.  There really was a gorilla who was rescued from poachers as a baby, spent 27 years in captivity at a shopping mall zoo, and had hidden artistic talent. The dialogue between the animals is fun, and – although mainly for kids – the film also reflects on adult themes from time to time.  It has a feel-good happy ending, and I got misty at the end.  I didn't quite "go ape" for it, but, being an animal lover, I really enjoyed it.