During my time in middle school, my peers and I gorged on YA literature through which John Green penned his novels naturally being the best. After devouring his pages and satiating our devastated and exaggerated alienation through Margo Roth Spiegelman and Alaska Young or other nostalgic figures such as Hazel and Augustus, we rejoiced when an adaptation was announced and rushed to see the movie, finally witnessing our fanfiction come to life.
The latest film adaptation of the work by John Green is “Turtles All the Way Down,” written by Elizabeth Berger and Isaac Aptaker (and directed by Hannah Marks) who are known for their work on another adaptation “Love, Simon.” The novel was already written years ago, or at least, the movie was released pretty late after I turned into an adult, hence I used to doubt whether or not Green still has that youthful narrative that appeals to the youngsters. But “Turtles All the Way Down” is the contrary of banal and will most certainly appeal to its teenage and preteen target audience while also amaze those who think they are too grown up for it.
Aza (Isabela Merced) is a shy borderline adolescent with OCD who often finds herself in an obsessive ruminating cycle on the notions of infection and the microbiome, viewing herself as an an endless Russian doll who keeps getting embedded deeper and deeper into the layers of oneself. On top of dealing with the trauma of having lost her father, Aza has to deal with the weight of depression that she captures with the constant melody she hears in her mind thanks to her caring but somewhat overbearing mother (Judy Reyes). Her closest companion is Daisy who’s nothing like her and has the most carefree and witty personality which is often reckless.
Things go south when local tycoon Ernest Graham goes off the radar while waiting for a court date and Daisy, who has a ‘leave no stone unturned’ attitude encourages Aza to explore his mansion since there is a bounty of $100,000 for any relevant information regarding the man’s whereabouts. When they are about to be kicked out due to their inner trespasser being found, Aza’s past with the gazillionaire’s son Davis (Felix Mallard) saves her from having to deal with the her being taken by the police. Pretty quick, he goes from a summer camp friend to a love interest as they reconnect during a time when Aza may be emotionally vulnerable. She likes to be up close and personal though her chronic major depressive disorder limits her trigger to large butterflies.
“Turtles All the Way Down” is a story of the new generation that represents the current times along the lines of youth culture which has an increasing blend of mental health references.
Mark’s vision and superb sound design which accompanies Aza’s thought process with thrumming noise perfectly puts ‘us’ into her inner space. Aza, nor people akin to her, are pitied by the film or by Merced’s highly expressive nature in an othering manner. The closeness we are granted to her voice inside her head through narration by Merced, and moreover the adorable yet realistic smile-inducing chemistry of Merced and Cree’s Daisy slash root Aza so much that it is easy for us to locate our own fears about the past alongside her gasps for air. Despite that, writers made it clear that the issues of obsessive-compulsive disorder and her intrusive thoughts are not the main. In the same way, affectionate and funny touches cut through the film’s warmth and humor about the many moments that lead up to the cuts where she is lost in her head. It is also refreshingly familiar and simple.
Aza and Daisy argue about boys and girls they don’t like whilst eating ‘discount food’ at Applebee’s and then they spend self-indulgent afternoon after self-indulgent afternoon driving around with a Stankonia CD substandardly lodged inside Aza’s car (one of many funniest moments of the movie Aza and Daisy singing along with their favorite: “Ms. Jackson” ).
A lot interaction in the movie was rooted from heart warming relationship of Aza and David which had a lot cuteness and warm melt moments but Dawid’s performing was not good as it didn’t feel real like Merced’s jovial charisma.
While a couple of their chats and the genuinely lovable cringe that is some of their text interactions may be reminiscent of your first crush, and a different some may be the fantasy of what it could have been like (unless of course you went on a chartered plane with your high school girlfriend to Chicago, we’re happy for you), the connection between Aza and Daisy remains unparalleled. Even through all the relationships and turmoil, the companionship through all of the love, lust and bacteria of this film still stands, and that’s best friendship.
Marks’ “Turtles all the way down” has not escaped John Green’s signature sense of silliness and absurdity. A believable, refreshing young adult romance which is not limited in its reception to the specific audience. ‘Turtles All the Way Down’ however, will have the people of the young generation resonating and all the rest reminiscing.
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