Over the Moon 2020

      This film released by Neflix seems to have a Disney connection because it was directed by a key part of the Disney legacy, Glen Keane.  He did character work on The Rescuers and he was on the team for The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin.

     The theme of this film is the celebration of the autumn moon festival.  The fantasy violence in Over the Moon is only mildly scary and there are sad scenarios.  Fei Fei’s mother dies and there is a "Chamber of Exquisite Sadness" for the grief stricken.  Four years after his wife's death, Fei Fei’s father admits he sometimes feels lonely and he makes plans to remarry.   It ultimately leads to positive lessons and personal growth.  The main character Fei Fei comes from a loving extended family that often bonds over food in their beautiful Chinese village.  

     She also excels at science and puts her gifts to use to build a rocket.  It launches Fei Fei and her soon-to-be little brother and pets into a fantasy world on the moon.  Fei Fei believes that her mother is on the moon.  Upon landing, they encounter some threatening creatures and embark on adventures but Fei Fei hopes to find her mother.  Their lives are mildly put in danger but their experiences also bring them closer together and help Fei Fei work through her grief.  The children display courage and determination and they learn the expansiveness of love.  Some innocent expressions of affection and only iffy language limited to childish taunts.

95 min, animation directed by Glen Keane and co-director John Kahrs, screenplay written by Audrey Wells, Jennifer Yee McDevitt, Alice Wu with the voices of Glen Keane, Brycen Hall, Ruthie Ann Miles, John Cho, Cathy Ang, Edie Ichioka, Greg Watanabe, Elizabeth Pan, James Taku Leung, Josiah D. Lee, Lucky Lin, David Chen, Sandra Oh, Robert G. Chiu, Margaret Cho, Kimiko Glenn, Artt Butler, Irene Tsu, Clem Cheung, Brittany Ishibashi, Janice Kawaye.

Note:  Imdb 6.5* out of 10* with 11,843 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 81% with 98 reviews 74% with 150+ audience scores, Common Sense Media Jennifer Green 4* out of 5*, age 6+, 1* language and sexy stuff, 2* educational value, 3* violence & scariness, 4* positive messages, positive role models, Roger Ebert 2* out of 4* Brian Tallerico, The Guardian 3* out of 5* Cath Clarke.