‘Over the Moon’ attempts to be five movies instead of a single good one

Posted on October 30, 2020

By MARK VIOLA

I’ve often said that one of the great things about watching films and television from other countries is how it can give us a glimpse into cultures with which we have little familiarity. Although the new animated film “Over the Moon,” which premiered on Netflix last weekend, is a co-production between U.S. and Chinese companies, it is definitely rooted in Chinese culture and folklore.

I appreciated that aspect of the film, as before watching “Over the Moon,” I knew nothing about the story of Chang’e, a Chinese moon goddness who drank an elixir of immortality that sent her to live on the moon, leaving her to forever mourn her lover back on Earth who died.

Unfortunately, the movie never finds its focus, trying to do too many things and none of them well. By the time it was over, I felt like I had watched four or five short films that were loosely connected rather than a single movie. During its relatively short 90 minutes, “Over the Moon” tries to be a family drama, a sci-fi adventure and a fantasy tale rooted in mythology, all the while also being a musical.

Subscribe to our e-Edition and read the rest of the story. Already a subscriber? Click here to sign in.