I’ve known John Green for years. Well, not personally, but surely it seems like it. He, and his brother Hank, have transcended media in a way that not many others have achieved. I first came upon the Green brothers in High School, with their hugely successful “Crash Course” YouTube channel guiding my knowledge of U.S. and World History, Science, and so much more. Then came The Fault In Our Stars, the book that really put John Green on the map, and adapted into a widely successful film. That led to Green’s other books getting film adaptations, including Paper Towns and now Turtles All The Way Down, Green’s latest novel to get a feature adaptation.
The film follows the story of 16 year old Aza Holmes (Isabela Merced), a girl living with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) who obsesses about the fact that there are billions of germs and bacteria that live inside our bodies at all times. With Aza is her best friend Daisy (Cree). When the two discover that a local multi-millionaire is wanted by the law and has gone missing, they set out to try and find him to get the reward money. That’s when the two encounter Davis (Felix Mallard), the rich man’s son, who Aza knows from her time at grief counseling.
Davis and Aza then begin an unlikely romance that sees her facing her mental disorder head on, while coming to terms with the relationships she has with Davis, Daisy and her mother.
The thing I like most about Turtles All The Way Down is that it knows what it is and doesn’t try to do too much. At its core, the movie is a heartwarming romance that deals with the struggles a mental disorder can have on a person. While there is a “mystery” aspect to it, they rarely stray away from the main focus, being Davis and Aza. In essence, they picked a lane and stuck to it. I think the film could have been successful with a full focus on the mystery side instead, but I appreciated the story that was told.
It helps that the film is incredibly well acted across the board. Merced and Cree have a tremendous chemistry as the two leads and best friends. It feels genuine and real, a testament to their performances and the screenplay itself. There’s also some genuinely funny moments, mostly from Cree who feels fully in her element here.
While there are no real risks taken visually, there’s enough interesting settings to make the film fun to look at. There are excursions in the woods, trips to Applebee’s, a giant, gorgeous mansion and much more. Each work to provide a contrast to each character and it works pretty well.
Final Thoughts
Turtles All The Way Down is a fun film that doesn’t try to do too much and I appreciate it for that fact. Yes, it does play it safe at times, but also there are moments that really deal with some heavy topics, including dealing with severe mental disorders. It’s an interesting film that makes for a heartwarming watch, something that John Green seems to be a master of when it comes to his novels. If you’re a fan of his work, particularly with The Fault In Our Stars, then I think you’ll find great enjoyment in Turtles All The Way Down.
