Over the Moon a magical, musical adventure – movie review

A fun new animated movie premiering on Netflix today is Over the Moon. The underlying message of the movie is heartfelt, as a young girl deals with the loss of her mother and learns to move on and believe in her dreams.

When Fei Fei (Cathy Ang) was young, her mother told her stories about the Chinese moon goddess, Chang’e, who chose an immortal life on the moon, but is forever pining for her mortal lover.

Four years after Fei Fei’s mother passes away, her father (John Cho) brings home a new girlfriend, Mrs. Zhong (Sandra Oh) and her “annoying” son Chin. Fei Fei is distraught that her dad is moving on and that she might have a new family.

To prove that eternal love does really exist, Fei Fei decides to go to the moon and find Chang’e. The science-loving 13-year-old teen builds a spaceship to take her to the moon. On this journey, her mind and heart are opened to possibilities as she learns to heal and grow.

I enjoyed watching the immersive world created by the animators and filmmakers. From the little town in Shanghai to the colorful lunar world, you get a glimpse of Chinese culture and tradition as you journey though the magical, mystical and musical film. The song, “Rocket to the Moon,” is one you’ll find yourself singing along to.

Over the Moon was written by Audrey Wells, who died of cancer in 2018. This film is a love letter to her daughter. The power of loss and letting go is handled quite delicately. It’s a moving experience, especially for young adults. Oscar-winning filmmaker Glen Keane, who animated Ariel, Aladdin and Rapunzel, brings to life another strong female character — this time, she’s not a princess or a warrior, but your average teenage science student.

This film is a lovely option for family time viewing, and will leave you giving your loved ones a big hug. And that is a quite a treat, now more than ever.

Over the Moon is now streaming on Netflix. Watch our interviews with Cathy Ang and director Glen Keane below. ~Marriska Fernandes

Originally published on Tribute.ca.