Fluffy, the pet dog of Jimmy Five, disappeared. He develops a plan to rescue the puppy, but for that he will need the help of his faithful friends: Monica, Maggy and Smudge. Together, they will face challenges and live great adventures to take Fluffy back home.[7][8]
Other characters from the comics have appeared in the form of prints in magazines and paintings, including the twins Cremilda and Clotilde, Bubbly, Tom-Tom, Thunder and Horácio.[19] In the special participations it is possible to see the participation of Sidney Gusman (editor of Mauricio de Sousa Produções), Vitor and Lu Cafaggi (Laços creators) and Mauricio de Souza himself.
The main cast was unveiled on September 29, 2017. Giulia Barreto, Kevin Vecchiato, Gabriel Moreira and Laura Raseo — were chosen to act respectively as Monica, Jimmy Five, Smudge and Maggy on the live-action film adaption — the children thought they were still being evaluated in one step to be officially protagonists of the production. For the final test, the production direction prepared a surprise: a visit from Mauricio de Sousa to announce that they had been chosen for the film.[20] The children's reaction was filmed and later released as a promotional video.[21]
The first trailer for Turma da Mônica: Laços was released on December 18, 2018.[24] An episode of the animated series Monica Toy, titled "Laços de Amizade" and inspired by the film, was released on YouTube on June 19, 2019.[25]
Reception
The film received overwhelmingly positive reviews from Brazilian critics. Review aggregator AdoroCinema assigned a 3,9 stars from 5 from 9 reviews, with a 4,5 out of 5 from a review by the site's personnel.[26]
Denis Le Senechal Klimiuc, of Cinema com Rapadura, published a positive review, saying: "Daniel Rezende, in taking responsibility for bringing to the screen characters so dear and inherent to Brazilian culture, his mission was not simply to adapt, but to truly commit himself to transforming the colorful cartoon into a reality minimally credible. The result is enchanting."[27] In a positive review for the CinePOP portal, Janda Montenegro wrote: "The careful work of the team seems to have really devoted special attention to every and any detail that could contribute to the immersion of the universe created by Maurício de Sousa in 1959. [...] It is a film for you to take your children, but also to take mom, dad, auntie and grandma, teachers and friends, after all, everyone grew up watching the adventures of this little gang, so it is good to meet old friends again".[28]
Julia Sabbaga, from Omelete, gave the film a top rating, saying: "The film has a unique rhythm that combines adaptation of comics and children's movie, without losing timing of jokes and following a structure of youth adventure. [...] Finally, Monica Gang's: Bonds marks the national cinema as an exemplary work of technique, charisma, and adaptation of one of our greatest patrimonies".[29] Pedro Antunes, from Rolling Stone Brasil magazine, wrote: "The film has a very contemplative photograph and scenes of silence in the middle of the forest, proposes a breath, at first, after a great marathon that is to mature. The film disguised as a children's film beats the crap out of anyone who finally realizes that life won't run away if you start walking".[30]
Gabrila Zocchi, from Capricho magazine, gave the film a favorable note, saying: "The plot and dialogues, of course, are directed to children, but that doesn't mean that teenagers and adults won't leave the theater touched. It is impossible to watch the film and not remember childhood, remember the moments when you yourself read Monica's and Friends and even associate the story with personal experiences, whether past or present".[31] Praising the performance of the characters, Cesar Soto, from G1, wrote: The biggest flaw in "Bonds" is the reduced participation of Smudge and Maggy. The other pair's constant disputes for leadership diminish their importance and prevent their complexities from really appearing. On the other hand, the fights also yield the best moment of the plot, in which the protagonists abandon their "quadrinesque" personalities and let emerge a real human side".[32]
Sequel
On June 17, 2019, director Daniel Rezende stated that the film would have a sequel, based on the story Monica and Friends: Lessons [pt].[33][34] Soon after it was announced that the film was already in development and that the release date was October 8, 2020.[35]
