Review of Over the Moon (2020) by Megomike — 18 Feb 2021

If Flash Gordon and the citizens of Mongo travelled the Factory of Willy Wonka, with a grown-up Boo as a hero and the most heart-wrenching opening since UP, you’d have the bones for the visual lullaby that is Over the Moon.

Over the Moon packs a dozen characters fueled by energy drinks with surreal, madcap action at times, and a surprisingly upbeat soundtrack, flowing within a gentle story, quiet as the heartbeat of a sleeping child.

Over the Moon is written by Audrey Wells (George of the Jungle), Jennifer Yee McDevitt, and Alice Wu, and directed by Glen Keane (writer, Tarzan, Pocahontas) and John Kahrs (Joe’s Apartment). It stars the voice talents of Cathy Ang (Age of Sail) as Fei Fei, Robert G.

Chiu (Albert) as Chin, and a wonderfully zany performance by Ken Jeong (The Hangover, Crazy Rich Asians) as Gobi. Phillipa Soo (Hamilton) plays Chang’e, with John Cho (Star Trek) as Father, and Margaret Cho and Sandra Oh playing members of Fei Fei’s family.

Fei Fei is a young girl, part of a quirky, loving Asian family, suddenly faced with a loss insurmountable, and unexplainable for a child. As the world around her moves from grief to momentum, Fei Fei leans upon an old tale told to her by her mother, about a moon goddess waiting forever for her true love, their reunion the only hope for happiness.

As only a child can logic, Fei Fei knows only by traveling to the moon and delivering proof of the moon goddess to her family can she hope to keep them stuck in their loss, as she is, where they belong.

While there are an impressive amount of visually beautiful and even rapid sequences in this movie, it rarely feels chaotic, and flows like a fairy tale of old, with a simple message of love at its core.

While the idea of a child building and flying a rocket to the moon is absurd, the writers give Fei Fei a scientific mind that uses sound engineering, yet explained in the words of children, in the creation of her space craft.

The hero of this movie is actually a rocket scientist; and it’s a girl! The music, bookending a booty-shaker by the moon goddess, is beautifully and thoughtfully written, including a silly yet measured performance by the delirious Ken Jeong.

The cast is well thought through, with beautiful vocals by Cathy Ang who also manages to deliver wonder, angst, and determination as the young Fei Fei. Her family is wonderfully realized by a number of well recognized actors including John Cho, Margaret Cho, and Sandra Oh.

Ken Jeong reels in his ridiculously zany persona to deliver a bizarre yet profound performance as Gobi, a lost space alien, who is often the soul of the film. In addition, Robert Chiu as the young Chin reminds us that the idea of new family, new happiness, and new love, is something to celebrate and cherish.

I give Over the Moon 4/5 Stars and recommend it to literally everyone.