Overall Thoughts: Sits firmly in Pixar's "good" camp, though not quite in their "best" camp.
Hearing the premise and seeing the trailer for Turning Red, I could only think of one thing. The Incredible Hulk. Yes, it seemed like Pixar was taking maybe a little too much inspiration from it's Disney stablemate Marvel Studios. And true, there are similarities here. But, the overall stakes here are quite different, and carry more of a spiritual and personal connection in the story.
Then, when the movie finally debuted, I heard a lot about the controversy from parents groups and critics about some of its choices. And, understandably, I lowered my expectations and braced for maybe Pixar's weakest effort yet? But, upon watching, the final film was...should I say, better than anticipated?
Yes, Turning Red still manages to keep Pixar's key hallmarks mostly firmly in place. A strong story. Well-developed, memorable characters. Endearing moments that do nearly bring a tear to the eye. Great animation. It's all there. Now, I also do agree with a few of the points brought up as well. Does Turning Red have mixed messages for parents and teenagers? Yes, it does. Does it bring up topics (puberty, menstruation) that could be a turn-off for some families with younger children? Yes, it does. However, does it also have some really strong, positive things to say going for it as well? Absolutely.
Going back to those positives, I will say first that Turning Red continues Pixar's tradition of having a strong story as well as fairly memorable characters. Meilin and her friends are a very likable group, and their voice actors (led by the charismatic Rosalie Chiang) bring the energy and fun needed. Some of the side characters might not live up to some of Pixar's finest, but they still play a big role in making the story involving and as suspenseful as possible. Meanwhile, Sandra Oh is terrific as Mei's Mom, and James Hong is light and funny in a supporting role.
The animation, while not up to par with Pixar's finest work, is still colorful and creative. It almost felt like a nod to anime at times as well. The film is set in 2002 in Toronto, which felt a bit nostalgic at times. There's a few very strong and creative sequences here and there. Meanwhile, the film's story is a little predictable, but it also takes a few interesting turns along the way. This leads to interesting resolutions that are executed very strongly from an emotional standpoint.
And then, there's 4Town. Inspired by N'Sync, the Backstreet Boys and the boy band craze of the early 2000's. The three songs written by Billie Eliish and Finneas O'Connell for the group are solid, but I don't think they are going to end up as memorable crazes like the Encanto soundtrack was.
Speaking to the film's messages, I was a little bit disappointed in how the film does not exactly give real consequences for Mei's rebellious choices. Instead, Mei ends up being the one that's mostly "right". Now, this isn't to say her Mom was in the right either. She definitely had some issues, needed to listen to her daughter more and be more understanding. However, while Mei's Mom thankfully is given understandable reasons for her actions, it would have been appreciative to see Mei grow and learn from her choices and mistakes as well, instead of defending them. That being said, the film does say a lot of positive things about individualism, confidence and the importance of listening and communication between parents and children as they grow.
Looking at the whole picture, Turning Red does manage to glue you to the screen with the fun, creative, and heartwarming elements that Pixar's been good at for nearly 30 years. While it's not among my favorite efforts from the studio (this is closer to Cars than Finding Nemo), it's still a good one...and a strong feature directorial debut for Domee Shi.
And, if Pixar movies can at least continue to be good, then that's not a bad place to be.
Grade: B+
Is this movie family-friendly? Turning Red is rated PG for "thematic material, suggestive content and language." The film carries a few slightly scary elements including a nightmare sequence that might frighten little ones. Some dark, spiritual moments in the form of ancestral communication and prayer appear as well. There's little in the way of language, with the only notable exclamations being "OMG", "crap" and "oh, fudgesickles!". As far as suggestive content goes, there are some topics discussed that could be a little inappropriate for younger children. The film talks quite a bit about pads, "keeping your petals clean" and other wordplay for a girl's first period and monthly cycle. Thankfully, the film does stop talking about it within 20 minutes or so once the "real problem" of Mei turning into a red panda is known. There's also a little bit of catcalling, ogling, and flirtatious behavior. Also, Mei lies several times to her parents, and uses her "blessing/curse" for monetary gain. Ultimately, I would encourage parents of younger kids to watch first before making their decision. As far as an appropriate age, parents will all likely have a different opinion about it when it comes to their families. That is why I think a parent watching it first might be a good idea.
Grade: B+
Is this movie family-friendly? Turning Red is rated PG for "thematic material, suggestive content and language." The film carries a few slightly scary elements including a nightmare sequence that might frighten little ones. Some dark, spiritual moments in the form of ancestral communication and prayer appear as well. There's little in the way of language, with the only notable exclamations being "OMG", "crap" and "oh, fudgesickles!". As far as suggestive content goes, there are some topics discussed that could be a little inappropriate for younger children. The film talks quite a bit about pads, "keeping your petals clean" and other wordplay for a girl's first period and monthly cycle. Thankfully, the film does stop talking about it within 20 minutes or so once the "real problem" of Mei turning into a red panda is known. There's also a little bit of catcalling, ogling, and flirtatious behavior. Also, Mei lies several times to her parents, and uses her "blessing/curse" for monetary gain. Ultimately, I would encourage parents of younger kids to watch first before making their decision. As far as an appropriate age, parents will all likely have a different opinion about it when it comes to their families. That is why I think a parent watching it first might be a good idea.
