Remarkably Bright Creatures

Netflix's Remarkably Bright Creatures adapts Shelby Van Pelt's novel into a gentler family drama led by Sally Field. The film keeps the grief and warmth intact but pushes its octopus protagonist to the margins.

Remarkably Bright Creatures is as much a sugary and sentimental tale as it is a moving account of love and grief. However, the two-time Academy Award–winning actor Field lends her emotional heft and artistic range to make this whimsical yet profound live-action drama relatable. Ultimately, Remarkably Bright Creatures is a reassuring tale of optimism and resilience that help human beings rebuild their lives after suffering setbacks.

Remarkably Bright Creatures, directed by Olivia Newman, carefully walks the thin line between sanded down Hallmark moments and genuine human connection, and mostly succeeds. The film holds one's attention thanks mainly to the magnificent Sally Field, who plays Tova, the grieving mum at the centre of the story.