Turning Red, the expensive Pixar animated film from 2022, is finally receiving a theatrical release, and I made sure to see it in a theatre.  It is incomprehensible to me how Disney / Pixar decided to bypass a theatrical release for this movie, especially considering its $175 million budget.  How could it possibly make back its investment without receiving a theatrical release?  It didn’t.  This is a step in the right direction, and hopefully the Disney / Pixar executives will get their heads out of their butts and ensure that each of their movies, such as this one, Soul, Luca and others — along with the many people who create them — are not so disrespected in the future.  Disney is usually smart about business; they used to successfully re-release their animated classics every seven years or so and made millions doing that.  These films deserve theatrical runs.  Lecture endeth.

Domee Shi’s film takes place in Toronto, Canada, in 2002, as bright young student Meilin Lee (voice of Rosalie Chiang) enters puberty rather awkwardly and suddenly discovers her family’s secret — upon reaching womanhood the females transform into big red pandas when triggered by emotional outbursts.  These transformations are increasingly hard to control and only a ritual to permanently contain them will stop them.  Meilin wants them to stop, but they prove to be profitable to her efforts to raise enough money for her and her three best friends to attend an upcoming music concert — which is due to take place the same night as her important ritual.

This movie isn’t subtle, and I, like Meilin’s parents, don’t really understand the swooning appeal of the pop boy-band 4⭐︎Town (with its five members).  By the way, their songs are written by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell, currently up for Oscars for their Barbie song “What Was I Made For?”.  I also had real problems with Mei’s mother Ming (voice of Sandra Oh), whose protectiveness and good intentions continually embarrass and shame her daughter in public.  Yet on the other hand this film is brimming with charm and cuteness, especially when Mei transforms into a big red panda that everyone finds adorable.  The film balances those elements quite nicely, especially at the climax when Mei’s extended family, her school friends and frenemies and the 4⭐︎Town concert all collide quite memorably at Toronto’s SkyDome.  It’s quite a show.

This isn’t a film for staunch conservatives.  It’s all about inclusion, embracing everybody’s differences, bridging the gaps between cultures and classes, supporting rebelliousness, and finding one’s own path while relying on support from one’s closest companions (not necessarily family).  Its logical conclusion flaunts tradition and demands that Meilin (and those who she represents) be seen and accepted for who she really is, not whom she is expected to be.  Its message is clear, and it’s a modern, pro-feminist voice of rebellion.  It’s a bit of a different look for a Disney product, which may have gone into the decision to stream this movie rather than show it in theaters where it belongs.  Now, at least for a couple of weeks, that stupid decision has been reversed.  I hope it does well, for it’s a fun movie that shakes things up with charm and verve.  ☆ ☆ ☆.  13 February 2024.