Review: Turning Red, and review of audience reaction

After watching Disney’s Pixar Turning Red (the first time) I turned straight to social media to see what people were saying. It was the first time I had watched a Disney coming-of-age film that made my younger self feel so seen! The awkward ages when at school and going through puberty sure are a weird time for everyone, especially those who have periods. This film highlights the quirky, hilarious and emotional time in a girl’s life when they are figuring themselves out- who they fancy, what is happening to their body, how to avoid awkward conversations with parents…getting parents to say yes to (probably ridiculous) plans with friends, I can relate to it all! And it is amazing to see it represented in a movie, especially a Disney one as a huge audience gain a small insight into what it is like being a modern-day young woman!

Now, back to what I found on social media…unfortunately, there were a few strange comments from ‘concerned’ parents. Some complained of feeling awkward at the “adult topics” of periods and found it an “inappropriate” topic for a PG film, even though the average age of a person who menstruates starts at the age of 12. Much like Megan-Eve Hollins on LinkedIn, I found this ridiculous. Mainly because said parent referred to periods as “adult topics”, when as Miss Hollins correctly writes, “how old were you when you had your first period […] my guess was before you were 18. Which means… you were a child. Which means… it's a children’s topic.” Thankfully, there were only a few outrageous comments such as this, or at least if there were more, they were drowned out by the wonderful reviews many many fans were leaving.

It was not just concerned parents making nonsensical comments, it was also paid writers, who should have the experience and brain cells to take a moment to think before writing bizarre reviews. A disturbing side of reviews has been white men writing how they cannot relate due to Mei being a young Asian female. In a now-deleted review, CinemaBlend Managing Editor Sean O’Connell complained that he couldn’t identify with Mei’s story, and therefore the entire project was “limited in scope.” His language explicitly focused on the cultural setting, making the ridiculous conclusion that a story set in Toronto’s Asian community somehow made the film too “specific and narrow” to be enjoyed by the masses. O’Connell defended his thoughts in a now-deleted tweet, which called the film “exhausting” due to his inability to see himself within the story. This take is so nonsensical because since when have Disney films been relatable in terms of characters, tell me how O’Connell can see himself in the Beast from Beauty and the Beast, or perhaps he sees himself represented in the many princesses? This was one of the more down-to-earth Disney films where the characters were truly representative of a whole generation and more.

Moreover, the conservative website The Federalist wrote that the film was an “embarrassing allegory about menstruation” while making absurd comments that the film’s topics made it limiting for wider audiences. Writer Peter Pischke made sure to remit the film’s “tampon talk” as though getting your first period isn’t an actual, sometimes scary, and universal part of many young people’s lives.

Other reviewers echoed the sentiment that the film’s themes were inappropriate for children, but for different concerns: that Turning Red celebrates kids disobeying their parents. “It feels like the film champions kids being rude to their parents and other authority figures,”. This idea - that Turning Red promotes defiance and a corrupt level of self-acceptance - has popped up so often in reviews and discussions that I would like to remind readers of the other Disney Pixar movies that encourage self-acceptance. Pixar is no stranger to depictions of kids having rocky relationships with their parents, from Brave to Finding Nemo. Noncompliant characters are Disney’s tea and biscuits, from Inside Out to Luca to almost every Disney princess. It is concerning that this particular Disney girls’ disobedience is so objectionable, that we cannot ignore the issue of racism and the implication that some viewers want Mei to be presented as a respectful, compliant stereotype.

The topic of not wanting to disappoint your parents but having your own dreams and fantasies is a great theme for Disney’s Pixar to follow, it shows the nuance and depth of an adolescent’s life. They rely on their parents for a roof over their heads, food on the table and support, but they are finding themselves at the same time. It could be difficult to find oneself when parents have clear ideas of how they expect a child to ‘turn out’, and this film covers this so well. The film teaches that you can have a loving relationship with your parents but still be yourself, even if it is not exactly what they had planned. It is so important for huge companies like Disney to cover topics like this as well as menstruation because it aids children and young people in understanding that it is normal to feel the ways Mei and her friends feel in this film.

Some people were cringed out by the film, and at times so was I. But if I was to sit here writing and pretend that I was not equally cringey as these girls at 13, then I would be lying to myself and the reader. The personal cringing purely came from the deep sense of feeling seen the film created- my 13-year-old self is not exactly a mindset or time of my life I often (or like to) revisit. The hashtag #at13 began trending, as people wrote how over-the-top and embarrassing they were at 13, so for anyone out there grappling under the false impression that 13-year-olds are cool, you are simply wrong. Thus, the cringiness is authentic.

One final thing I would like to give a nod to in Disney’s Pixar film Turning Red is the boys that Mei and her friends crush on all, clearly, have eye-liner/ makeup on. It is about time that huge blockbuster companies like Disney catch up with the times and make films that people who present themselves atypically can see themselves in and feel represented. Moreover, not just see themselves in but see themselves being the romantic interest of the film. Also, I had not laughed at a moment in a film so much as I did as when Mei was trying to distract her red panda Mother whilst her family drew a circle around her. Mei’s incessant twerking/ bum-shaking whilst she was a red panda truly tickled me.

The obvious play on words with the title ‘Turning Red’, referencing going through puberty and for some people menstruation, is a simple yet effective choice. And Mei ending the film by telling her Mother “my panda my choice” is a great play on ‘my body my choice’, clearly pointing to the autonomy a person should have over their body at any age. Turning Red is a charming coming-of-age film and if I had children I would be proud to show it to them- no matter their gender. On a less analytical level, the film is gratifying with (of course) incredible animation. The fun anime style facial expressions throughout which make for an entertaining watch, and of course the red panda is adorable. Whatever your age, gender, race, sexuality, the sentiments of the film are relatable: nothing stays the same forever, and that isn’t a bad thing.