For the most part, you are dull and blundering
Main Cast: Sally Field, Lewis Pullman
Director: Olivia Newman
Like nearly everyone I know, I read Remarkably Bright Creatures for book club. The 2022 bestselling novel by Shelby Van Pelt was a smash hit, a feel-good read with a trio of lovable characters.
Screenwriter/director Olivia Newman brings Remarkably Bright Creatures to the screen with a movie that not only captures the spirit of the novel, but also creates a visual experience that is part dream and part fairy tale.
Remarkably Bright Creatures is, on its face, the story of a mischievous octopus living out his days at an aquarium in Washington. Marcellus is a Giant Pacific octopus, unhappy with his captivity and his exposure to most people. The only human he tolerates is Tova, the night cleaner. Marcellus narrates the story of his own life, and those of Tova and Cameron, a new addition to the aquarium staff.
The story here is about human grief, aging, healing, and purpose. Marcellus is the lens through which we see the humans struggling with, well, being human. His affectionate contempt for their tribulations is tempered by his valiant efforts to help them heal.
Remarkably Bright Creatures is a gentle movie, tender with its characters and with its audience. Tova is sassy and demanding and has a group of friends who revel in being age-inappropriate, much to Tova’s chagrin. Cameron is fumbling and awkward, learning to let go of past slights. Marcellus is the tie that binds them.
Two elements make Remarkably Bright Creatures a film worthy of its source material. The first is the exquisite use of visual effects. The rendering of Marcellus and the aquarium is magical. The cinematography is never gritty or hyper-realistic; instead it has a soft, gauzy feel that makes a narrating octopus seem perfectly natural. There’s a talent here that’s hard to put a finger on, but cinematographer Ashley Connor does a marvelous job interpreting this material.
The second is the superb casting, particularly of Sally Field as Tova. She gives the character the depth she deserves, allowing her to be inconsistent and stubborn and caring and detached. Her grief has shaped her life, and Marcellus is her only real confidante.
The rest of the cast is great, but they’re all riding in her wake. Lewis Pullman does well as Cameron, and Joan Chen, Kathy Baker, and Beth Grant are fun as Tova’s friends. Colm Meaney is a cut above the rest of the supporting cast as a local shopkeeper.
I really enjoyed Remarkably Bright Creatures, but it isn’t for everyone. It’s a lovely, fairy tale-esque movie with great performances and beautiful effects that elevate the story. If you’re looking for heart-pounding action or gritty conflict, one look at the poster should tell you to look elsewhere.
Sue reads a lot, writes a lot, edits a lot, and loves a good craft. She was deemed “too picky” to proofread her children’s school papers and wears this as a badge of honor. She is also proud of her aggressively average knitting skills. TV and indie movies are her jam.
