Brilliant, Realistic, Riveting
What is it like to live inside your head instead of living in reality? Only people who tend to overthink to the point of having negative thoughts can answer such a question. John Green is not considered to be one of the greatest authors of all time but his novels have inspired movies that were well enjoyed by the present generation of young adults.
Be it Looking For Alaska or The Fault in Our Stars, John Green’s novels have raised a generation of book lovers. Another famous novel by John Green, Turtles All The Way Down has been made into a film that was recently released on the streaming platform Max. The film stars Isabela Merced, Cree Cicchino and Felix Mallard in the main roles.
Turtles All The Way Down narrates the story of a germophobic Aza Holmes who suffered from OCD among other mental health issues. Ever since the death of her father, Aza has been constantly anxious. Now as a 17-year-old, Aza Holmes finds existing difficult. She tries to be a good daughter, friend, and student, all while navigating an endless barrage of invasive, obsessive thoughts that she cannot control.
When she reconnects with Davis, her childhood crush, Aza is confronted with fundamental questions about her potential for love, happiness, friendship, and hope. Will Aza manage to get out of her head and maintain a romantic relationship with Davis?
The film has some of the best-written jokes for a teen comedy in the present generation. Daisy (played by Cree Cicchino) is quite notably the funniest character in the film and it tries to explore the world of a teenager who is suffering from mental health struggles and is trying to maintain a healthy relationship with people around her when she is anxious and contemplating in her head all the time.
Isabela Merced does quite an amazing job as Aza Holmes. The anxiety Aza feels over one open wound on her finger that she believes would kill her beautifully explains the mind of an individual dealing with serious mental health issues like OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). With people throwing around the term OCD so casually, Turtles All The Way Down beautifully encapsulates what having OCD is like.
The film is more about Aza’s struggle with maintaining a healthy relationship with herself than with others. Aza and Daisy have the most beautiful and selfless friendship we have seen in films these days. Daisy is the best friend one can ask for and she is there for Aza, all the way through. Turtles All The Way Down is a must-watch with brilliant performances from the main cast.
The OST is also engaging with Billie Eilish’s ‘bad guy’ playing in the background while Aza is having one of her many anxious tirades. I wish the story would have ended on a different note but the message Turtles All The Way Down is trying to impart is self-love, making this film a thought-provoking potboiler.
Read More: Turtles All The Way Down (2024) Ending Explained
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Verdict - 9/10
9/10