Those familiar with John Green’s many book-to-movie adaptations (The Fault in Our Stars, Paper Towns) will recognize the author’s signature quirks in Turtles All the Way Down. There are kids who spout out quotable quotes and love interests too gorgeous to be real. But just the same, teenagers are given a fuller and deeper understanding here, which is Green’s best trademark and true strength. Helped by Director Hannah Mark’s strong vision, Turtles All the Way Down is a relatable and heartwarming look into the gnawing pain that can come with growing up. Specifically, the film invites us into the troubled mind of Aza, who suffers from debilitating OCD. It’s a realistic (and never pitiful) assessment of how anxious teens navigate love, friendship, and maybe most notable of all, money. There’s a focus on economic realities here that feels fitting and wise in this day and age. Many people forget how keenly aware young people are of money, and it’s refreshing to see it play out here, even if it’s just in the peripheral.
"Being a teenager? It’s not for the faint of heart. Being a Green teen? Well, at least someone is treating you like an adult. The latest Green adaptation, “Turtles All the Way Down,” offers yet another sterling example of that mindset and the power of it."
— Kate Erbland
"It’s a charming, delightful YA romance that doesn’t bind itself to the sole enjoyment of its target market."
— Peyton Robinson
Aza confronts her potential for love, happiness, friendship, and hope while navigating an endless barrage of invasive, obsessive thoughts.
When 16-year-old Aza (Isabela Merced) and her best friend Daisy (Cree Cicchino) hear about Aza’s friend, Davis (Felix Mallard), on the news, they give him a visit and embark on an emotional journey that tests the limits of their friendship.
One can only hope OCD is represented this sympathetically and accurately in the media.
Sometimes I wonder if the recent surge of manic pixie dream boys in Hollywood is payback for all the times their female counterparts vexed us in movies past.
