Edgar Cochran ✝️’s review published on Letterboxd:
I’m not here to debate the accuracy of the representation of a particular capsule of time of the Chinese-Canadian community in Toronto: accuracy couldn’t be higher. Conflicts begin with the sources of origin:
a) Ranma½
b) Sailor Moon
c) Inuyasha
d) Fruits Basket
Reportedly, these four anime series were a direct inspiration for the creation of this film. Particularly, a) and d) share elements of adolescence and... yes... transforming into an animal. Watch me as the last person to be excited about the millionth film in history that does this; that dumb gimmick is what ruined Brenda Chapman’s 2012 rendition and resulted uncomfortably cringe in Soul (2020).
This style is the one that attempts to predominate in Domee Shi’s vision. long gone is the allegorical symbolism in the great Bao (2018); now, we have to embrace cringe pop-loving adolescent rebels trying to conduct their own “Project X” for raising funds in an attempt to watch their own version of the Backstreet Boys. Why was the plot decided to be this? Why is the magical tradition of the family sidetracked by Mean Girls (2004) humor (Mithil, please don’t; this reference is not what you think it is)?
I could swear on my life that the final chapter, which is definitely the most symbolic and valuable, has a freaking Ghostbusters (1984) reference and couldn’t avoid drawing a big smile. Aside from that, there is not a real coming-of-age arc, the matriarchy topic is barely treated regarding its pervasive influences on a family structure, and Disney shows its hypocrisy towards a natural process: they make questionable “humorous” references towards menstruation openly, and yet, Only Yesterday (1991) got all references to menstruation banned because they were improper. Really, screw you.
This is recommended for Pixar completionists, or incurable completionists in general like myself. At least, your patience will be greatly rewarded by the last act, and I don’t mean the action and peril.
46/100
P.S. Priya is too damn cool for this film.
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