Through unlikely bonds formed during night shifts at a local aquarium, Tova, an elderly widow, learns of a life-changing discovery that may bring her joy and wonder once again.
Chuck says:
With each passing day, the world makes less and less sense to me. There’s a callousness in the air, a sense that looking out for others has gone the way of the dinosaur and that if you’re not putting yourself first, you’re a fool. To combat this, I find myself spending more time with my dog and any others who cross my pass. There’s a dignity in the unconditional acceptance they give to all they meet that should be emulated by one and all. I also go out of my way to find stories relating acts of human kindness. Big or small, any anecdote that tells of an act of generosity is needed and welcome. They serve as tiny bits of fuel that rekindle my soul, their scarcity making them all the more valuable to me.
I guess that’s why Olivia Newman’s “Remarkably Bright Creatures” appealed to me. A flawed film to be sure, it’s one that has its heart in the right place as well as a cast committed to delivering its message with style and sincerity. Based on the novel by Shelby Van Pelt, the movie manages to pull off it’s rather outlandish story with a sense of finesse that’s surprising, the director’s subdued approach effectively muting any incredulity that might occur among viewers.
Recognizing a good role when she sees it, Sally Field serves as one of the film’s producers and stars as Tova, a lonely widow whose life has contained more than its fair share of tragedy. Though she doesn’t need the money, she works as a cleaning lady at a nearby aquarium, a job she takes very seriously. She enjoys the quiet as well as the seemingly one-sided conversations she has with another old soul, an octopus named Marcellus (voice by Alfred Molina). What she doesn’t realize is the invertebrate senses her sadness, saying he “detects a hole in her heart,” something he sets out to fix.
Just how he goes about doing this is better left unsaid and proves to be one of the movie’s great delights. If nothing else, you’ll be tempted to learn more about these amazing creatures after seeing Marcellus’ outlandish acts, none of them out of the realm of possibilities.
These are only two of the many lonely souls in “Creatures.” Chief among them is Cameron Cassmore (Lewis Pullman), a rather aimless musician who’s come to town to find the father he never knew, only to get stranded when his van breaks down. Needing quick cash in order to fix it, he gets a job at the aquarium, crossing paths with Tova, an event that will change their lives in ways they could never predict.
What connects them is a stretch, but the film builds up so much good will, you’ll likely excuse it. Coleman and Van Pelt employ it with the best of intentions the payoff it precipitates worthy of the conceit.
The movie is populated by a bevy of familiar faces, Kathy Baker, Joan Chan Beth Grant and Colm Meany among them, none given enough to do but each a welcome sight. Not the first rodeo for any of them, each knows how to deftly do their part in helping to deliver the film’s message regarding the importance of mourning and the avenues opened up through forgiveness. In the end, “Creatures” proves to be much like Marcellus, as it too knows what ails us as well as how to subtly cure us.
3 Stars
