Like with all Pixar animations, a ranking of their latest within their canon is unavoidable (well, at least until they gets repetitive and boring and it becomes untenable), but Turning Red lands somewhere in the top half of their repertoire (of 25 films). I hesitate to put it in the top third, cause that means it will be at least in top 8/9, which is kind of impossible.
What Turning Red has going for it was relatability. Like all good Pixar films, the story was relatable not only for children but also for the adults watching it. Who cannot relate to the awkward pains of adolescent and puberty? The need to please your parents but yet rebel against them? The joy of hanging out with your friends? The chase /of teeny pop idols? The binging of soap operas? And of course, who does not love a big, fluffy, red panda? Coupled that with a healthy dose of humour and an all inclusive supporting cast, it was hard not to be charmed by this coming of age, fantastical story co-written and directed by Domee Shi.
Then, of course, also undeniably, the Asian pull is strong in this, from the food, to the traditions, to the anime-like sequences (I see you Sailor Moon!).
This was ultimately a story about family and the bond between parent and child, and specifically mother and daughter, and in that aspect, some might feel a slight disconnect. Menarche and menstruation (or even in a male context, wet dreams and masturbation) is not as universal as death, purpose in life, joy and depression.
However, what was crucial were the feelings associated with growing up and being a teenager. The frustrations between being your parents' child and being one with your friends. The blossoming feelings for someone else. he fantasies of being with a superstar. Who dares to say that these feelings are unrelatable? Shi chose to center the story on a teenage girl because that was what she and co-writer Julia Cho knows best, and that gave the story an authenticity that so many male-led, female protagonists-driven narratives lacked.
But one thing that it did not succeed as well as the other top tier-ed Pixar films was its emotional heart. Sure, there were laughters throughout the film, but the emotional core was too well telegraphed. It was beat-by-beat and predictable, as were the feelings that ought to be felt. It kind of lacked that missing ingredient in really good Pixar films that just hit the gut and the mind at the same time. A minor quip, but one that truly kept Turning Red from being great - and possibly from winning next year's Oscars.
Nonetheless kudos to the voice cast and especially Sandra Oh! She was an inspired choice. An amazing voice actress! She imbued her character with such rich emotional complexities that it was at times heartbreaking. And she just sounds like she was having a blast!
Of course we also needed to add Billie Ellish and Finneas O'Connor to the soundtrack to cash in on the GenZs. Let us be practical on that, but at least their boyband songs sounded appropriately 90s.
Turning Red as a little post-credits stinger, stay to the end!
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