‘Remarkably Bright Creatures’ Review – A Story Where The Mollusk Is More Interesting Than The People

There are times when a film leaves me in awe. Then, there are times when a film leaves me quizzical in a frustrating way. This time it is the latter, thanks to the film Remarkably Bright Creatures. Though it boasts a wonderful cast and charming performances, the story itself leaves you uncertain. While it’s unique, given that Alfred Molina voices an octopus (more on that later), the story is vexing and poses too many questions. Is this a comedy, or is it a drama? It is meant to be a subtle play on emotion or a convoluted study of relationships, grief, and life itself. The sentimentality is a little too heavy-handed. What is ultimately remarkable is that there appears to be a more compelling story, wasted on what feels like a redundant family drama.

The story is one of unlikely friendship. The first is that of Tova (Sally Field) and the bond she shares with the curmudgeonly octopus, Marcellus (Molina). He lives in the aquarium where she works, cleaning the tanks. Marcellus makes it his mission to solve a mystery that will heal Tova’s broken heart and lead her to a life-changing discovery. The second friendship Tova forms is with Cameron (Lewis Pullman), who is searching for his father. A mystery unfolds, and later, a discovery that will bring both of them clarity and joy. 

From an acting standpoint, Field and Pullman pair well together. They form a bubbly bond, and their interactions and clashing perspectives create some of the film’s strongest comedic beats, as well as where the movie attempts to find its heart. She is worrying about aging and finding purpose in her golden years since her husband’s passing. Cameron is on a path of self-discovery, seeking to learn about his past. 

The film uses the octopus element more as a framing device, but amazingly enough, when you cast Alfred Molina to do a voice-over for a cranky old octopus, don’t be surprised when those are the film’s most endearing and compelling moments!

The whole octopus of it all feels like a “throw everything at the wall and see what sticks” tactic. There is a desire to make the creature known as Marcellus anthropomorphized. He never speaks to his human pals, though his on-and-off narration and his subtle efforts to play the unifier and matchmaker make me wish that was the real twist. At points, the story feels like it’s going into Free Willy territory, but without a modicum of whimsy or charm. As a framing device, the octopus idea makes sense as a unique way to tell a very human story. The problem is the alternating storylines: one minute with Field and Pullman on land, and the next, Molina in the aquarium, plotting how to aid their struggles. It stretches the storyline to almost incredulous lengths, resulting in frustration above all else.

Now, to his credit, Molina brings a loveable crabby demeanor to his voice-over. The time spent with his octopus, Marcellus, is among the film’s more humorous and insightful points. Again, this zeroes in on the film’s difficulty in maintaining a delicate balance. While there is overlap between the human and marine animal storylines, the film never allows each to coexist. When Tova and Cameron’s storyline is indeed the dramatic chops, we are also marking time, waiting to return to Aquarius and hear more from the malcontent octopus with a mind of his own. 

An octopus living in an aquarium speaks about the life of the people who clean the facility. This mollusk, somehow wise-beyond-his-years aquatic attraction, is imparting life lessons and moving heaven and earth, all the while life goes on as it does for those of us who do not live in the water. The setup becomes jarring: one moment, Marcellus is waxing poetic or crawling out of the tank, and in the next breath, Tovas is trying to solve a question of Cameron’s parentage. 

The effort becomes laborious, feeling like the culmination of two movies sewn together. While the hook is intriguing, it may work more effectively on the written page. There is a book (by Shelby Van Pelt) on which this film is based, but here it is safe to say the big-screen transition feels jarring. Do not be surprised when audiences are clamoring for more from the insightful octopus. For what is the movie’s hook, ultimately feels more like a bait and switch. The film seems more interested in cliché elements of self-discovery and finding one’s purpose than in the more intriguing aspect of the octopus, which understands human nature better than, well, the humans. 

Remarkable Bright Creatures will debut exclusively in theaters on May 8, 20206. 

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