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Turning Red - Ehhhhhhhhhhhh.......
3 years ago
So, this movie gathered some controversies before it was even released, eh? Funny actually, especially now that it's out, and there wasn't that much of a reason to get so invested.
Okay then...
Premise: The movie follows Mei, your average Chinese-Canadian young teen girl living her life in the best year 2004. She is interested in typical teen-girl stuff, like hanging out with her friends Miriam (The straight-woman), Priya (Goth not in fashion, but soul!) and Abby (Wario's estranged daughter); getting obsessed with boy band 4-Town (Yes they are actually 5 members, nobody knows why) and of course, being dutiful to her parents. After one rather VERY embarrassing evening with her mom, Mai ends up waking up turned into a giant red panda creature, just like in the legends about her guardian ancestor. Learning from her parents that she needs to control it before they could cure her, Mei's life is put into a struggle between meeting expectations set for her and getting control of her life.
And this movie is Mid.
Okay, I know that there was this whole expectation that it was either going to be really good, or extremely hated, but the end result really is...mid. But to elaborate:
Plot: EXTREMELY PREDICTABLE, even though the creator also made BAO short (saw it only once, and yet it would not leave my head). I've already told you the premise, but you can pretty much figure out what will happen next, actually. If you need further proof, the mother is overprotective and has her own panda form she is hiding via talisman, which is revealed early in the movie. BOOM, spoiled the rest of the plot.
Not only that, it has this weird case that started with Luca of not actually having stakes or following through most consequences for the main character (I'll elaborate later). There are elements that could have used more emphasis, but then again, it would have made for an entirely different movie.
It's theme of puberty and maturity is weirdly done. Turning into a panda monster that was needed to get through war time is a weird concept. It works in some scenes, though, but leaves your head scratching in others.
There overall tone though is not bad, and I did follow through normally. It simply the case where the more I think about it, the more question might pop up.
Characters: You either like the main characters, or hate them, or, interestingly, feel like their potential was wasted. On the one hand, Mei is relatable (Hardy Hardy Har insert comment on controversy here) and has a poignant struggle as a dutiful daughter. Hell, how she reacted to things at first were very sympathetic. That said, as people pointed out, she got away with most of the things she did (not exactly though, but then again, she had to pay for them less) and generally felt too self-centered. On the other hand, I liked her friendship with other girls (who sadly kinda turned into one unit instead separate characters) and even more so, her relationship with her mother.
I'm just gonna say, her mother is the most fascinating character in the movie. Some may not like how over the top antagonistic she is, or find her too unlikeable, but I was extremely interested in her. She was raised with trauma, had to deal with being raised perfectionist, is honestly in great relationship with her husband and daughter, in that she loves them deeply, but is extremely strict, all the while dealing with her own issues. The movie should have made her a deuteragonist, or hell, made the movie focus on her. But then it would change the main hook of the movie, in which case...meh.
Presentation: Ugly bean mouth animation that is actually pretty okay, but I'd rather them not continue with it. It worked for the movie and was basically fine here, but I think it would've been better as hand-drawn in style of Klaus. You know, still 2D, but made to look 3D. Generally, love it or hate it.
Comedy: Did not mind it one bit. Surprised huh? Well, this type of cringe I had no problem. It's really just teen being teens, and though it does over-rely on second hand embarrassment jokes. Really up to you.
Seriously, this movie is an "not for me" style movie. You may like, or hate it, or think its alright and then forget it the next day. I loved the music though, and would buy that 4 TOWN album.
Overall, 6/10.
Okay then...
Premise: The movie follows Mei, your average Chinese-Canadian young teen girl living her life in the best year 2004. She is interested in typical teen-girl stuff, like hanging out with her friends Miriam (The straight-woman), Priya (Goth not in fashion, but soul!) and Abby (Wario's estranged daughter); getting obsessed with boy band 4-Town (Yes they are actually 5 members, nobody knows why) and of course, being dutiful to her parents. After one rather VERY embarrassing evening with her mom, Mai ends up waking up turned into a giant red panda creature, just like in the legends about her guardian ancestor. Learning from her parents that she needs to control it before they could cure her, Mei's life is put into a struggle between meeting expectations set for her and getting control of her life.
And this movie is Mid.
Okay, I know that there was this whole expectation that it was either going to be really good, or extremely hated, but the end result really is...mid. But to elaborate:
Plot: EXTREMELY PREDICTABLE, even though the creator also made BAO short (saw it only once, and yet it would not leave my head). I've already told you the premise, but you can pretty much figure out what will happen next, actually. If you need further proof, the mother is overprotective and has her own panda form she is hiding via talisman, which is revealed early in the movie. BOOM, spoiled the rest of the plot.
Not only that, it has this weird case that started with Luca of not actually having stakes or following through most consequences for the main character (I'll elaborate later). There are elements that could have used more emphasis, but then again, it would have made for an entirely different movie.
It's theme of puberty and maturity is weirdly done. Turning into a panda monster that was needed to get through war time is a weird concept. It works in some scenes, though, but leaves your head scratching in others.
There overall tone though is not bad, and I did follow through normally. It simply the case where the more I think about it, the more question might pop up.
Characters: You either like the main characters, or hate them, or, interestingly, feel like their potential was wasted. On the one hand, Mei is relatable (Hardy Hardy Har insert comment on controversy here) and has a poignant struggle as a dutiful daughter. Hell, how she reacted to things at first were very sympathetic. That said, as people pointed out, she got away with most of the things she did (not exactly though, but then again, she had to pay for them less) and generally felt too self-centered. On the other hand, I liked her friendship with other girls (who sadly kinda turned into one unit instead separate characters) and even more so, her relationship with her mother.
I'm just gonna say, her mother is the most fascinating character in the movie. Some may not like how over the top antagonistic she is, or find her too unlikeable, but I was extremely interested in her. She was raised with trauma, had to deal with being raised perfectionist, is honestly in great relationship with her husband and daughter, in that she loves them deeply, but is extremely strict, all the while dealing with her own issues. The movie should have made her a deuteragonist, or hell, made the movie focus on her. But then it would change the main hook of the movie, in which case...meh.
Presentation: Ugly bean mouth animation that is actually pretty okay, but I'd rather them not continue with it. It worked for the movie and was basically fine here, but I think it would've been better as hand-drawn in style of Klaus. You know, still 2D, but made to look 3D. Generally, love it or hate it.
Comedy: Did not mind it one bit. Surprised huh? Well, this type of cringe I had no problem. It's really just teen being teens, and though it does over-rely on second hand embarrassment jokes. Really up to you.
Seriously, this movie is an "not for me" style movie. You may like, or hate it, or think its alright and then forget it the next day. I loved the music though, and would buy that 4 TOWN album.
Overall, 6/10.
