Kritiken

"Over the Moon" might be one of the most gorgeous animated films ever made — but it’s gorgeous in strange ways... The cluttered story and the shifts in form might lose you from time to time, but the film conjures some genuinely powerful emotions.

"Over the Moon" revels in its cultural touchstones, from mooncakes to fu dogs to the pointed symbolism of a white crane. But some of the creators’ bigger choices feel like a Western attempt to run down a checklist of recognizable Chinese cultural touchstones, in a way that feels simultaneously off-base for the story, and condescending to viewers.

"Over the Moon" overtly tries to emulate Disney animation without occupying its orbit. Although the movie is visually impressive, [it] suffers from a too-thin story, built upon a heavy-handed message soaked in that oldest of Disney tropes: a dead mom.

It’s naturally a little unfair to compare something to Studio Ghibli, but they’re a studio that has dealt with grief and princess mythology before, and have done so in a way that never disguises the humanity embedded in all of their work. That’s what’s missing here... The best fables linger in the heart and mind. This one never makes it past the eyes.

Take "The Wizard of Oz," add a touch of "Up," a splash of "Frozen" and toss well with the cultural specificity of a "Coco" and you’ll get a reasonable facsimile of "Over the Moon," a CG-animated musical fantasy that still manages to infuse sufficient charm and genuine warmth into the inescapable familiarity.

Similar to “Coco,” the Pixar story this film most resembles, “Over the Moon” uses buoyant folklore to explore a child’s grappling with death. But this movie’s gaudy and generic attempts at interstellar whimsy can only dream of reaching the visual fantasy heights of “Coco.”

Overall, the journey of "Over the Moon" is wonderful. Admittedly, the pacing gets a bit wobbly as Keane gets carried away with one out-of-this-world set piece after another... Yet it’s easy to get caught up in the rollick, the rhythms, and the resounding heart of this beautiful, bouncy, and bittersweet film.

Glen Keane makes his well-overdue feature directorial debut, and the man who designed Ariel and Pocahontas has lost none of his knack for heartbreaking poignancy... While the animation has the slightly plastic feel that is popular among big-budget Chinese animation at the moment (which always looks better in motion than in stills), there's a remarkable visual creativity and fascinating stylistic innovations, with moments of sketch work and watercolors that broaden the canvas.

"Over The Moon" is emotionally resonant, boasting fresh cultural narratives in its exploration of Chinese mythology, and a handful of great songs (Chang’e’s ‘Ultraluminary’ is a catchy EDM-pop banger). Throw in a likeable central hero who’s smart, driven, and scientifically-minded – who wouldn’t feel out of place in the Magic Kingdom – and Disney has a potential competitor on its white-gloved hands.

For a while, I was absorbed in this dazzling K-poppy lunar universe with its biker chickens and floating frogs. It’s all very spectacular – but nothing much happens in the second half, and back on Earth, the movie’s message about loss and the power of letting go feels oversweetened, more Disney than Disney.

The problem with “Over the Moon” isn’t that it doesn’t make enough sense; if anything, it makes far too much. Even its most surreal flights of fancy are tethered to a ploddingly diagrammed story whose indisputable lessons — cherish the ones you love, and also make room for more of them — are driven home with dispiriting obviousness.

The main cast could really have done with some more time together, instead of being interrupted by various zany supporting characters... Despite this and the oddly paced, paint-by-numbers narrative, the visuals truly pop, and the film is at once unpredictable and dazzling in its combination of different techniques and styles.