Movie review
October 16, 2020 · 95 min · PG · Kids · Fantasy · Animation · Adventure · Family
Over the Moon is an animated family movie about a young girl named Fei Fei who grieves the loss of her mother. To prove that a legendary moon goddess is real and stop her father from remarrying, she builds a home-made rocket to fly to the moon. The film features a positive portrayal of family, traditional Chinese festivals, and coping with grief. While the main character is a highly competent girl genius who builds a rocket, and the casting focuses on ethnic representation, there are no modern political themes or social-justice lectures.
Community feedback
Was our 25% Woke rating accurate?
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Over the Moon.
Woke representation / casting
The film features an all-Asian voice cast. While this fits the setting of a story taking place in China, the casting was heavily promoted by producers as an intentional milestone for Hollywood diversity and representation. Additionally, the lead character is a teenage girl genius who builds a working space rocket, which lightly utilizes the common trope of exceptional female competence.
35%
Woke political dialogue
The script does not contain any activist dialogue, modern political lecturing, or social-justice messaging. The characters speak in standard family-friendly dialogue focused entirely on relationships, personal feelings, and mythology.
0%
Identity-driven story themes
The narrative focuses on universal human struggles, such as processing the loss of a parent and adapting to a new stepfamily. While Chinese cultural traditions and folklore are central to the setting, they are not used to push modern identity politics, social-justice themes, or activist talking points.
10%
Western institutional / cultural critique
The movie does not criticize Western institutions, traditional family structures, or social norms. It presents the traditional family unit, respect for elders, and community gatherings in a warm and positive light.
0%
Woke character or canon changes
Not present in this title.
0%
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
There was no notable anti-woke backlash or political complaints from conservative or right-leaning viewers. The film was widely received as a standard, uncontroversial animated family film.
0%
Creator track record context
The key creatives present a mixed background. Director Glen Keane has a traditional perspective with no history of progressive activism. However, producer Janet Yang is a prominent Hollywood diversity advocate, and screenwriter Audrey Wells was known for centering projects around strong feminist and social-justice perspectives.
25%
Production
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