Review: Over the Moon

A young girl struggles with her father’s new relationship and holds on to her mother’s memory through an ancient fairy tale.

Animation legend Glen Keane is known for bringing many Disney favorites to life. Some include Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and many more. And now he’s making his full-length movie directorial debut with Netflix’s Over the Moon. 

When I watched the trailer and saw his name, there was one thing I was expecting; beautiful animation. And Over the Moon did not let me down. This movie is vibrant and beautiful, with stunning animation.

On top of brilliant animation, Over the Moon has a heartwarming and emotional story. This is not a Disney film. That being said, the plot is filled with many the same elements that will pull at your heartstrings. And it also proves Netflix can produce animated films that are on par with Disney and Dreamworks.

It begins with a mother telling her young daughter Fei Fei (Cathy Ang) the tale of Chang’e (Phillipa Soo). In the Chinese myth, Chang’e is a moon goddess separated from her love and waits for him on the moon. Fei Fei carries that story and the tradition of making moon cakes with her through her life when she loses her mother. As Fei Fei grows older, she realizes her father is starting to move on when she meets Mrs. Zhong ( Sandra Oh) and her son Chin (Robert G. Chiu). 

Determined to keep her mother’s memory alive and prove Chang’e is real, Fei Fei constructs a way to the moon. After a few failed attempts, she blasts into space with her pet rabbit Bungee. Fei Fei learns that Chin has stowed away on her makeshift space ship as they make their way to the sky.  

Chang’ e greets them as they arrive, but she’s expecting a gift. In exchange for this gift, she will help Fei Fei prove that she is real. Fei Fei, Chin, and their adorable sidekicks embark on the search for the gift. Through their journey, they discover what it means to love, lose, and move on.

I love films where I can learn about cultures. I had never heard of the Moon Goddess myth before this film, but I’m sure this will be an amazing and imaginative piece of representation on the screen for those who know the story. 

Along with the star-studded all Asian cast, this movie is filled with catchy songs, cheeky jokes, adorable moments, irresistible side characters, and a Hamilton alum. Over the Moon is an out of this world adventure that is enjoyable from start to finish. It also carries universal themes of love and loss that everyone can identify with. 

The one downside is the movie shoots off like a shooting star in the beginning but lands on a subpar conflict. It’s not terrible, but there’s hardly a struggle and there is no real villain. That being said, the ending is strong and will have you reaching for a box of tissues. 

Over the Moon blasts into your orbit on Netflix October 23.