DORA AND THE SEARCH FOR SOL DORADO

DORA AND THE SEARCH FOR SOL DORADO is an action adventure movie for families on Nickelodeon and Paramount+ that follows the world’s greatest explorer, Dora, her cousin Diego and their new friends on a perilous adventure through the Amazon jungle in search of the ancient Incan treasure of Sol Dorado. DORA AND THE SEARCH FOR SOL DORADO is an exciting adventurous movie that not only explores a jungle in search of treasure but explores what it means to have confidence in oneself, what adventure is really for, and the importance of friends and family, but it has some magical elements and references to false pagan Inca beliefs.

As a nice introduction from the TV show, this movie begins with Dora as a young child. She and her cousin, Diego, dream of exploring like their hero, Camilla the Crusader, a TV star. Their abuelo or grandfather encourages them and takes them exploring the Amazon jungle where they live. He tells them of the Incas who lived in the jungle and believed a magical star fell from the sky and gave life to the jungle. This star, or Sol Dorado (Spanish for “Golden Sun”), has the power to grant one wish, and this is the treasure they will seek. Abuelo also gives Dora a magical map that is blank but will show her wherever she needs to go.

While out exploring on her own with her map, she meets a monkey that only she can understand. She helps him and gives him boots for his injured feet and names himself Boots.

Cut to 10 years later. Dora is an older, more experienced explorer who lives at home with her extensive and loving Hispanic family. Reminiscent of INDIANA JONES or THE GOONIES, Dora is a fearless, smart and witty explorer with a perky and very optimistic demeanor. However, she does have trouble distinguishing her left from her right, indicating a poor sense of overall direction. Yet, she does have a strong, morally upstanding character. Dora’s not looking for personal gain. She only seeks adventure.

While getting ready to leave for the day’s adventure, Dora says goodbye to her family, showing a large traditional and extended family in one house. She passes her Abuelo’s grave, showing the audience that Abuelo has passed. Dora meets up with Diego so they can finally find the Sol Dorado. Today’s the day!

Once they reach the cave that the magical map indicates, a skeleton pops up from the ground, but Dora isn’t afraid. She knows the Incas often booby-trap their treasure, so they are on the right track, and she is undeterred. Diego reluctantly goes with her to keep her safe but does have to be at work in two hours. She falls through the floor by accident, solves the puzzle in the cave, and much like Indiana Jones, swaps the sundial medallion with a compact, which breaks, causing fire to engulf the cave. Diego swings in and saves her, but she drops the magical map.

Dora feels like she can’t be an explorer without her map. So, she and Diego start working at Jungle World, a local theme park, so she can work for her hero, Camilla the Crusader, who is now the manager. When Camilla meets Dora, Camilla doesn’t seem like she used to be on TV. Camilla says that, like Dora, she’s looking for a new adventure. But Dora discovers that Camilla is also searching for Sol Dorado, but with a team of villainous desperados and Swiper the Fox helping her.

Dora has no choice but to find out what Camilla knows. So, she and a reluctant Diego spy on them in a restricted area of Jungle World. After finding the golden box in a back room, Dora opens the box to find the Incan emperor’s bracelet which magically attaches itself to her wrist and presents her with a vision that’s a clue to finding Sol Dorado. As they are running from Camilla and her desperados, Dora discovers that the bracelet can’t come off. In fact, it’s also keeping her from danger and pointing her in the right direction.

Dora and Diego team up with Nya, another Jungle World employee, Diego’s ex-girlfriend, and Nya’s little brother, Sonny. They drive them away from the desperados in the tour tram during a dangerous car chase. Diego uses a slingshot, and Sonny tries to use a blow dart, but hits Diego instead, causing him to pass out and almost fall out of the tram several times.

They get to the safety of the jungle, but the tram they were in has crashed. However, they have everything they need to survive the jungle in Dora’s magical backpack. Dora explains that the emperor’s bracelet will show them the way in lieu of the map, and Boots the monkey shows up to help them.

Dora, Diego and their friends go through many different Inca caves solving puzzles, while Camilla and her desperados track them. Camilla does catch up to them with the help of Swiper the fox, who also steals Dora’s backpack with all her survival gear. Also, Dora falls down a hill and is knocked unconscious while Camilla’s desperadoes kidnap Diego and their friends.

Dora wakes up relatively unharmed and discovers that she has everything she needs. However, will she be able to find Diego and their friends in time? And, will she be able to beat Camilla to Sol Dorado and get her map back?

Eventually, Dora and the others will discover what adventure is all about and what is truly important.

DORA AND THE SEARCH FOR SOL DORADO is a new and updated live-action version of the animated TV program DORA THE EXPLORER. Even better, it’s certainly a positive renewal of the franchise that children who grew up watching the series will surely enjoy. The plot is fast paced to hold a child’s attention while being exciting, fun and full of action. The animated animals are convincing and full of personality. They help build the movie’s fantasy jungle world setting, including Boots the monkey who often helps Dora except in caves or Swiper the Fox, Camilla’s loyal pet, who’s good at “swiping.” The many Inca caves are creative and dangerous puzzles, even if they are a bit unbelievable at times. As such, they’re reminiscent of other treasure-hunting movies. They are also often dangerous and include scary things like snakes, skeletons, bones, and creepy bugs, which may be of caution for younger children and other sensitive viewers.

That said, the stunts are convincing and create tension that holds the viewer’s attention. The main characters are likeable, and the actors are well cast; especially Samantha Lorraine, who does an amazing job bringing Dora to life in an impressive way. Also, Camilla has a redemptive character arc which contrasts well with Dora’s moral character. The combination brings some depth to the movie without have any gratuitous negativity. Thus, DORA AND THE SEARCH FOR SOL DORADO is a fun watch for children and adults alike, although MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for younger children because of the movie’s scary content, action violence and dangerous stunts.

DORA AND THE SEARCH FOR SOL DORADO has a strong moral worldview. The heroes are concerned with right and wrong and being good people who do the right thing, even the antagonist in the end. The movie’s main takeaway is that friends and family are more important over material riches and even living a life of curiosity and wonder. The movie carefully avoids any political or religious references. It also has no foul language or crude content and a positive tone to the story, even in dangerous situations. Interestingly enough, the writers do make a point to use the word, “swipe” never saying “steal.” DORA AND THE SEARCH FOR SOL DORADO also has plenty of comic relief, which softens the movie’s scarier content.

As an action adventure movie, however, SOL DORADO has many action scenes with dangerous stunts, reckless driving, one scene with a blow dart, and a swordfight. The characters are unharmed, except for one evil character falling into an abyss to an implied death. However, DORA AND THE SEARCH FOR SOL DORADO has no foul language or crude content, and a positive vibe to the storytelling.