FAMILY MOVIE REVIEWS

by Bonnie L. Harris

Letting Go of Love

Bungee & Fei Fei make a plan.

Pearl Studio Rated: PG Streaming on Netflix

Although I love Pixar, Blue Sky, and Disney Studios, there’s a formidable new animation company called Pearl Studio that’s producing some remarkable new films. With the backing of Dreamworks Animation, Pearl Studio gave us Abominable in 2019 and their new feature, Over the Moon, is nothing short of exceptional. With top-notch animation, a soundtrack I must add to my playlist, and energetic characters that practically jump off the screen, Over the Moon, is both heartfelt and thrilling. But at its core, it’s a story of devastating loss and how a teenager named Fei Fei overcomes her fear of change. In a small Chinese village, Fei Fei and her parents celebrate the annual Moon Festival with their extended family by telling moon Goddess stories, making moon cakes, and sharing dinner. After Fei Fei’s mother dies, the family continues the Moon Festival traditions until one day, Fei Fei’s father brings a new woman and her son, Chin, to dinner. Fei Fei feels betrayed so she decides to build a rocket to go to the moon to prove that the Goddess still faithfully waits for her lost

partner. She believes this proof with cause her father to change his mind and not remarry. Fei Fei’s plan seems to work, but Chin stows away on the rocket and when they arrive on the moon, the Goddess isn’t at all what Fei Fei expected.

She demands a mysterious gift that leads Fei Fei and

Chin on the ride of their lives. With the help of some quirky unexpected friends,

Fei Fei finds the gift and convinces the Goddess to let go of her lost love, which in turn, helps Fei Fei do the same with her mother. It’s a wonderfully imaginative story that teaches a priceless life lesson. Be sure to keep the tissues handy.

FOR THE PARENTS about giant slugs, killer centipedes, and voracious Sand-Gobblers. Even the stray dog Survival Lessons and animals. The film doesn’t take itself too named Boy, who often rescues our clumsy Love and Monsters seriously, but at the same time, the characters have remarkable emotional depth for a story hero, Joel, seems genuinely devoted to the quest. Joel finds his girlfriend after an 85-mile Paramount Pictures, Rated: PG-13 trek and some tough survival Streaming on Amazon lessons, but she’s responsible for

The world turns upside down, people are a colony of older people who’ve separated into colonies, fear keeps them allowed suspicious new arrivals locked down, terrors lurk around every corner! into their safe zone. Joel must Does that sound like 2020 or what? Not to decide to help them or return to make light of the pandemic, but the off-beat his own colony, which he finally new feature, Love and Monsters, has plenty realizes is his new family. The of parallels with what we’re enduring. It’s an ending fits the zany story, and entertaining, goofy coming-of-age film about although it’s far-fetched, we a young man searching for his lost girlfriend cheer Joel’s newfound courage in a world ruled by genetically altered insects Advice from Mavis. and conviction. Pass the popcorn and enjoy!