Review: Charming ‘Over The Moon’ Gets Lost In Lunar Orbit

EDM, hip-hop, folk and Broadway all take turns shining in such songs as On the Moon Above, Mooncakes, Rocket to the Moon, Ultraluminary, Hey Boy, Wonderful, Yours Forever and Love Someone New. The movie also uses traditional Chinese instruments, like the pipa and guzheng, while singing in Mandarin is heard.

Director Glen Keane, who worked on The Little Mermaid and Aladdin among many others, brings much of his Disney experience to Over the Moon, this time making his feature directorial debut. Hes now helped Netflix get into the animated musical game, thanks to this collaboration between Chinas Pearl Studio and Sony Pictures.

Fei Fei’s build up for her moonshot and the launch is perhaps the most thrilling element of the film and the animators have put a great deal of thought into expressions for both kids and adults. The food pops and even the wind is expressive. But the film looses coherence and urgency on the dark side of the moon.

Truth be told, Change voiced fantastically by Soo is a bit of an Oz-like dictator, a lunar diva whose emotions determine everything on Lunaria. She introduces herself with a boastful K-pop banger Ultraluminary Ya ready to watch me be legendary? like Katy Perry on steroids. She’s nothing like Mama said, points out Fei Fei.

There are also Angry Birds-like motorcycle-riding chickens biker chicks, get it? and a blobby lunar dog called Gobi which is a little too close to Josh Gads goofy and endearing Olaf character from Frozen.

Add a small frog, an adorable bunny, a possible step-brother and a magical hare and things get overloaded. It’s a shame that viewers after a while will long for the pull of gravity.

Over the Moon, a Netflix/Pearl Studio release, is rated PG for some thematic elements and mild action. Running time: 99 minutes. Three stars out of four.

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MPAA Definition of PG: Parental guidance suggested.

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Online: https://www.netflix.com/title/80214236

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Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits