Author John Green’s coming-of-age novels about love, friendship, and mortality have resonated with teen readers for years. HBO Max’s new film, Turtles All The Way Down, is an enjoyable and emotional adaptation of Green’s bestselling 2017 novel. It follows a teen on a quest to locate a classmate’s missing father and battling with a disorder that prevents her from enjoying her day-to-day life.
Like many teenagers, Aza Holmes (Isabela Merced) strives to get good grades, spend time with her best friend, Daisy (Cree), and be the perfect daughter to her widowed mother, Gina (Judy Reyes). Her everyday teen drama and angst are enhanced by the fact that she suffers from nearly debilitating thought spirals due to her obsessive-compulsive disorder. When the film begins, she has recently gotten a cut on her finger and obsesses over the idea of it becoming infected and killing her. When the father of a childhood friend and classmate, Davis (Felix Mallard), goes missing, Aza and Daisy decide to find him. Both know that reward money would go a long way toward helping them fulfill their dreams, which, for Aza, means attending Northwestern University in Illinois and studying under a revered professor (J. Smith-Cameron). As she and Davis grow closer, Aza is faced with the reality that she’ll have to work hard at managing her disorder to live the life she so desperately wants.
Turtles All The Way Down is an emotional coming-of-age film and a visceral exploration of how obsessive-compulsive disorder impacts someone daily. The anxiety-filled scenes in which Aza works herself up by breaking down the bacteria entering her body border on being horrific She’s strong-willed, intelligent, and thinks she has it all figured out. This occurs in the scenes with her therapist, Dr. Singh (Poorna Jagannathan), and her mother. The paralyzing anxiety she feels is aptly portrayed and will leave viewers feeling as if they should be more cautious. Merced’s vulnerability and kindness, combined with an endearing charm, instantly make the character likable.
Cree shows that she’s perfectly capable of balancing both comedic and dramatic moments as Daisy. Daisy is the ultimate best friend and girl’s girl. She’s fun, smart, and wants the best for everyone in her life. Cree’s natural charm really shines through, and I can’t wait to see what this young actress does next. Her monologue at the climax of the film will leave viewers fighting back tears.
The friendship between Merced and Cree’s characters is the beating heart and core of the film. Although Daisy constantly supports Aza, and the duo makes an amazing duo when it comes to the disappearance of Davis’s father, Daisy hasn’t been raised with the same privileges that Aza has. She spends her days working at a horrible children’s restaurant and dressing up as the company’s mascot. While the reward money would change both of their lives, it would have the greatest impact on Daisy’s life. Although the film doesn’t delve into the class differences between the two too much, it’s a nice bit of realism that injects real tension into the plot. Again, Merced and Cree’s chemistry is what makes the girl’s friendship believable and fun to watch.
Felix Mallard does a great job of infusing the character of Davis with enough likability that viewers can’t help but want the best for him. His relationship with Aza is a sweet portion of the movie, and his intentions toward her are apparent from the beginning. While the character could have used more development, Mallard does a good enough job with what he’s given. Mallard’s facial expressions are powerful, and he manages to convey so with a look or a smile. He is a young actor with strong dramatic chops and is a joy to watch in this film.
Turtles All The Way Down is an enjoyable and emotional adaptation of John Green’s celebrated young adult novel. It packs enough drama, heart, and realism to keep viewers entertained throughout its runtime.
Turtles All The Way Down is now streaming on Max.
Turtles All The Way Down is an enjoyable and emotional adaptation of John Green's celebrated young adult novel. It packs enough drama, heart, and realism to keep viewers entertained throughout its runtime.
Writer. Video Essayist. Film/TV Critic. Pop Culture Enthusiast.
When he isn’t writing for Geek Vibes Nation or The Cinema Spot, Tristian can be found typing away at one of the novels or screenplays he’s been working on forever.