Today’s quick review: Over the Moon. Four years after the death of her mother, Fei Fei (Cathy Ang) is distraught to learn that her father (John Cho) is planning to remarry. Fei Fei builds a rocket to reach the Moon and find the goddess Chang’e (Phillipa Soo), who she thinks can convince him to change his mind. But to earn the goddess’ favor, Fei Fei must first recover a gift that can help Chang’e bring back her long-lost love.
Over the Moon is a family animated fantasy adventure based on a Chinese myth. The story follows a grief-stricken teenage girl on a quest to find a goddess and keep her family from undergoing a massive change. Over the Moon combines a colorful fantasy world with delicately handled themes of loneliness, family, and letting go. Beautiful visuals and a sweet story make Over the Moon a solid pick for anyone in the right mood.
The single most striking aspect of Over the Moon is its visuals. The film has a knack for bright, colorful designs that show off its impressive lighting technology without being overly complicated. The story strikes a similar balance. The basic story arc will be familiar to fans of the genre, but the details show plenty of care, and characters like Fei Fei and Chang’e get the chance to grow and develop identities of their own.
Other aspects of the film are satisfying but not outstanding. The songs are emotive and show off the singers’ powerful vocals, but none of them leave a lasting impression. The setting is an imaginative, fantasy version of the Moon, but the sparse landscape and oddly shaped creatures will not be everyone’s cup of tea. Finally, while Fei Fei’s journey supports the movie’s themes, it is not as fully fleshed out as other fantasy adventures.
Over the Moon is a fine pick for anyone who appreciates advanced CGI and cleanly told tales of loss and longing. It is not as emotionally resonant as the very best films in the genre, and it has slight weaknesses in terms of music, plot details, and humor. But in spite of these quibbles, Over the Moon carves out a comfortable niche for itself with its unique designs and solid fundamentals. Those curious should give it a shot.
For another animated fantasy film with ties to Chinese mythology, try Wish Dragon. For a stop-motion fantasy adventure that deals with similar themes and has mythological influences, try Kubo and the Two Strings. For an animated fantasy about a young explorer, try Patema Inverted or The Secret World of Arrietty. For an animated movie about girl’s trip to another world, try Spirited Away, A Whisker Away, or The Cat Returns.
[6.4 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7488208/). I give it a 7.0 for gorgeous animation and a sweet story.