Streaming
Service:
HBO Max
Movie
Name/Year:
Turtles All the Way Down
(2024)
Genre:
Drama, Romance
Length:
1h 51min
Rating:
PG-13
Director:
Hannah Marks
Writers:
John Green, Elizabeth Berger, Isaac Aptaker
Actors:
Isabela Merced, Cree, Judy Reyes, Felix Mallard, Maliq Johnson, Miles
Ekhardt, J. Smith-Cameron, Poorna Jagannathan, Tim Gooch, Jason
Kientz, Hannah Marks, Rico Romalus Parker, Debby Ryan
RottenTomatoes
Blurb:
Turtles All the Way Down tackles anxiety through its 17-year-old
protagonist, Aza Holmes. It's not easy being Aza, but she's trying...
trying to be a good daughter, a good friend, and a good 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.
Cat’s
Point of View:
When I first watched the trailer for
Turtles All the Way Down in preparation for May's
Top 20 article, I will admit that I somewhat wrote it off as
just another YA novel adaptation that would hit just about how they
all do.
I am of 2 minds about that trailer now.
First, it gave away far too much of the story. Without knowing all of
the context, however, it's not entirely chock full of spoilers.
(There are some big ones though, so keep that in mind if you decide
to take a peek.) At the same time, it didn't fully capture how much
Turtles All the Way Down hit differently than the typical YA
flicks.
I never thought I'd have ugly tears
over a car... but here we are. When I learned that the screenwriting
team that adapted John Green's (Paper Towns, Let It Snow, The
Fault in Our Stars) novel was the same duo behind the series This
is Us (2016-2022), it made more sense. I cried with every episode
of that one. (I'm not kidding. That's a story for another day.)
The basic elements were all there so
that it comfortably fit into its teen romantic drama genre. Even so,
there were just so many more layers to Turtles All the Way Down
that resonated on a much deeper level.
While some of the actual medical
terms/facts might be a little iffy – something I've seen a few
reviews and even IMDb trivia poke at – that wasn't the point. I
just let that go as I was watching. The substance of Isabela Merced's
(Dora and the Lost City of Gold, Migration, Madame Web)
character Aza's struggles was uncomfortably on-point all the same. I
don't generally struggle with full-blown OCD, but I do understand
anxiety and negative thought spirals. I understand getting locked
inside my own head and absorbed in everything right in front of my
face to the degree that I forget to communicate with others
sometimes.
I could also identify with Aza's mom,
played by Judy Reyes (Smile, Birth/Rebirth, Dr. Death). There
are some days that I just question myself whether or not I'm doing
enough - or if I AM enough – to help my own daughter with her
mental health struggles. This can sometimes even be a trigger for my
own thought spirals – she got a big chunk of her genetic jackpot
from me.
At the same time, Turtles All the
Way Down is just as much about hope and real connections between
people as it is about finding a way to grow through mental struggles.
I adored the friendship shown – and especially how these BFFs
weren't perfect and were generally opposites, yet meshed all the
same. I think Cree (Game Shakers, Mr. Iglesias, Big Sky) was
an excellent fit for Daisy, as well.
I also appreciated how the ending both
answered so many questions without epilogue and at the same time left
much up in the air. I was left with a cathartic hopeful feeling.
Turtles All the Way Down is absolutely worth giving a shot if
Drama and Romance are genres you enjoy.
Rotten
Tomatoes Critic Score – 90%
Rotten
Tomatoes Audience Score –
94%
Metascore
– 64%
Metacritic
User Score –
6.3/10
IMDB
Score –
6.8/10
Trust
the Dice: Selina’s Rating – /5
Trust
the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 4.5/5
Movie
Trailer:
P.S.
= If
you or someone you know is suffering from anxiety or other mental
health distress, there are resources available to you. Below are just
a few of the options available. Just remember, you are not alone.
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline: 1-800-950-NAMI (6264)
- Anxiety Hotline – Available 24/7 - National Mental Health Hotline at 866-903-3787 to speak to a professional about anxiety symptoms and get help with mental health resources.
- Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a volunteer Crisis Counselor 24/7 or
- Text CONNECT to 741741 for free, 24/7 help for specifically anxiety.
- Suicide & Crisis Lifeline - 24/7: Dial or Text 988
