In a world where coming-of-age stories and mythical creatures collide, "Ruby Gillman: Teenage Kraken" splashes into the sea of animated adventures with the enthusiasm of a kraken at an all-you-can-eat sushi buffet. The plot follows 16-year-old Ruby, whose biggest problems include not just fitting in at high school but also hiding her tentacled heritage in the quaint seaside town of Oceanside. It's a tale as old as time, with a twist: instead of worrying about acne, Ruby frets over bioluminescent suction cups popping up at inopportune moments. The film tries to tackle themes of identity, friendship, and family secrets with a mix of humor and heart. However, it often feels like swimming through familiar waters, with its predictable narrative currents and shoals of clichés.
The movie's humor oscillates between genuinely funny moments and attempts that sink faster than a mobster's shoes. For instance, Ruby's panic-induced transformation in the library, which could have been a metaphor for teenage angst, ends up feeling more like a missed opportunity for a deeper message. Instead, the film opts for slapstick and spectacle, including a laser-eyed kraken showdown that would make even the most stoic of cephalopods chuckle. The character dynamics, particularly Ruby's relationships with her human crush and her mermaid frenemy, are engaging but tread too closely to the surface of what could have been a deeper exploration of interspecies diplomacy.
Where "Ruby Gillman: Teenage Kraken" shines is in its visual storytelling and the occasional clever twist on mythical lore. The reveal that mermaids are the ocean's mean girls is a fun flip on the traditional fish tale. The animation is vibrant, capturing the underwater and seaside settings with a palette that's as colorful as a coral reef. Yet, the film settles for being just "ok" due to its reliance on familiar tropes and a reluctance to dive deeper into the more interesting aspects of its premise. Ultimately, it's a decent family movie night choice-entertaining, if not entirely memorable. It's like finding a pretty seashell on the beach; it's nice to look at, but you know there's more out there in the vast ocean.
The movie's humor oscillates between genuinely funny moments and attempts that sink faster than a mobster's shoes. For instance, Ruby's panic-induced transformation in the library, which could have been a metaphor for teenage angst, ends up feeling more like a missed opportunity for a deeper message. Instead, the film opts for slapstick and spectacle, including a laser-eyed kraken showdown that would make even the most stoic of cephalopods chuckle. The character dynamics, particularly Ruby's relationships with her human crush and her mermaid frenemy, are engaging but tread too closely to the surface of what could have been a deeper exploration of interspecies diplomacy.
Where "Ruby Gillman: Teenage Kraken" shines is in its visual storytelling and the occasional clever twist on mythical lore. The reveal that mermaids are the ocean's mean girls is a fun flip on the traditional fish tale. The animation is vibrant, capturing the underwater and seaside settings with a palette that's as colorful as a coral reef. Yet, the film settles for being just "ok" due to its reliance on familiar tropes and a reluctance to dive deeper into the more interesting aspects of its premise. Ultimately, it's a decent family movie night choice-entertaining, if not entirely memorable. It's like finding a pretty seashell on the beach; it's nice to look at, but you know there's more out there in the vast ocean.