A hearing child (Emilia Jones) in a deaf family finds herself torn between pursuing her love of music and her family’s reliance on her to be their connection to the outside world.
Chuck says:
There’s no denying that Sian Heder’s CODA is a genuine crowdpleaser, a film that borrows liberally from a variety of feel-good sources, never caring that the audience will recognize them for what they are. A shy girl’s first love, a kooky family of lovable misfits, s David vs. Goliath story and a longshot attempt at success – all of these elements are at play here and while Heder and her cast don’t pretend these narrative chestnuts are new, they at least render them with sincerity.
Ruby (Emilia Jones) is a high school senior with far too much on her shoulders. Not only does she have her studies but being the only hearing member in her family, she’s required to work on her deaf father’s (Troy Kotser) fishing boat with her brother (Daniel Durant) each morning. Her mother (Marlee Matlin) does her best to keep the books for the fishing enterprise but she too needs her daughter to communicate with other members of the community.
Bridging the gap between her family and the rest of the world is becoming too much for Ruby and though she wants to go away to college to pursue a career in music, she feels obligated to stay behind, convinced her family won’t be able to get along with out her. Fortunately, her music teacher (Eugenio Durbez) nurtures her talent, prodding her along, encouraging her to follow her dreams. That the boy she’s had a crush on (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) has been paired with her to perform a duet at a music competition causes equal measures of angt and excitement.
You can tell pretty much where this story is headed from the start. There are no surprises and Heder certainly doesn’t pretend there’s anything new here. The humor is equally obvious, Kotser and Matlin playing the eccentric parent schtick to the hilt. However, the film’s saving grace is Jones. She exudes a natural sense of charm, dominating each scene she’s in as she delivers a sly performance brimming with confidence. That she is a fabulous singer certainly helps.
Winning the Grand Jury Prize as well as the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival, CODA was snatched up by Apple TV for a record $25 million. Yes, it’s good but it certainly isn’t great, it’s familiarity preventing it from being such. This is a comfort food movie, the equivalant of meatloaf and mashed potatoes, a reliable, familiar work that satisfies but is hardly special.
3 Stars
Pam says:
“CODA” (Child of Deaf Adults) hits all the right notes in this Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award winning film. Starring Emilia Jones as Ruby, the only hearing person in her family, her future seems regrettably set as she is the sole connection to the hearing world for her family. Gifted with a singing voice, she longs for more, but the high schooler is torn between independence and her family’s dependency upon her hearing. While the common tropes of young love, childhood angst, and a familiar story arc is used, the film is unusual with its cast and the issues of the deaf community. This heartfelt story filled with laughter and love that will please any audience.
3 Stars
