By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
?Over the Moon? is a breathtakingly beautiful animated movie not from Disney/Pixar or DreamWorks, but
Netflix. The streaming giant pulled out all the stops for their first-time launch into animation.?
Directed by Glen Keane (?Little Mermaid? ?Beauty and The Beast?), who collaborated with the late
Kobe Bryant for their Oscar winning short, ?Dear Basketball,?
?Over the Moon? aims high and keeps right on soaring.
The movie is also the last screenwriting project from filmmaker
Audrey Wells (?The Hate U Give? and ?Under the Tuscan Sun?) who died from cancer in 2018. Wells wrote ?Over the Moon? as a tribute to her daughter.
?Over the Moon? features a terrific voice cast led by Cathy Ang (TV?s ?Ramy?), Ken Jeong (TV?s ?The Masked Singer? and ?Adventures in Wonder Park?), Sandra Oh (TV?s ?Killing Eve?) and Phillipa Soo (?Hamilton,? ?The One and Only Ivan? and ?The Broken Hearts Gallery?). Check out what Jeong, Ang and Keane had to say about the film.
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There are also some memorable and snappy musical numbers in it too scored by Steven Price (?Gravity? and ?The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers?). Ang?s ?Rocket to the Moon? and ?Love Someone New? (Ang & Soo) are stuck in my head now.
?Over the Moon? is a touching story about family, culture, death, dreams, and happiness. Fei Fei (Ang) is a spunky and inquisitive 12-year-old girl who loves her pet rabbit, Bungee. It was a gift from her mother (Ruthie Ann Miles, TV?s ?All Rise?) who died, and Fei Fei misses her so much. She would tell Fei Fei remarkable stories especially one about Chang?e (Soo), a mythical Moon Goddess who supposedly drank a potion that gave her wondrous powers and control over a very eclectic group of creatures on the moon. The legend of the Moon Goddess is commemorated at the family?s annual Mid-Autumn Festival.
Fei Fei?s father (Cho) is loving and wonderful too and they have a fun time together making tasty moon cakes for their restaurant and at home. Fei Fei wishes her mom were around and they could all be a big happy family again.
So, you can imagine Fei Fei?s disappointment when her father starts dating the nice and attractive Mrs. Zhong (Oh) and even brings her to the house along with her nerdy son Chi (Robert G. Chiu, ?Let it Go?).
Fei Fei is so upset that her dad would even consider anyone taking her mother?s place. She retreats into her own little world. She?s a science lover and dreams about blasting off in a rocket to the moon hoping to see the revered Moon Goddess and prove that she?s for real.
With the unwanted help from Chin, Fei Fei makes a rocket and soon they are headed to a land of adventure. Their space trip becomes really trippy as they encounter a skittles colored world of huge frogs, dancing chickens, rabbits and a hyper little, green dog named Gobi (a funny Jeong). Of course, for Fei Fei this excursion is all about meeting the Moon Goddess who is a powerful and intimidating sight.
Little ones will love the vibrant colors, music, and sheer exuberance of ?Over the Moon.? It?s a blast and the film?s message of family bonding, daring to dream and overcoming obstacles will not be lost on them either.
Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays now at 6:20 p.m. on radio station KFBK 1530 AM and 93.1 FM.
Look At This Trailer For
"OVER THE MOON"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics? Association (BFCA), The Black Film Critics Circle (BFCC) and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
