Netflix is often criticized for their original content, so much so that, for audiences, the label of “Netflix Original” has become associated almost exclusively with a myriad of low-quality slop entertainment. This has definitely not been helped by the recent disappointing ending of Stranger Things, which was once Netflix’s most popular and generally well-regarded piece of media. Last Friday, however, Netflix came out with Remarkably Bright Creatures, an adaptation of Shelby Van Pelt’s acclaimed novel of the same name, starring Academy Award winner Sally Field and Emmy nominee Lewis Pullman. With the streaming service’s steadily declining reputation—due to constant price raises and content which is typically nothing special—will this film be the one to turn things around?

The movie follows Tova (Field), an elderly woman who works as an aquarium’s cleaner at night. There, she confides in and builds a camaraderie with the sea creatures, especially Marcellus, an octopus in the last stage of his life. In the same town, Cameron (Pullman), a down-on-his-luck musician, arrives in search of his father. The two form an unlikely friendship when Cameron starts working at the aquarium as Tova’s replacement.

Remarkably Bright Creatures definitely feels like a book adaptation, which is not at all a bad thing, in its character-driven plot, slow unravelling of details, and unconventional narration. The film is narrated by Marcellus, the octopus voiced by Alfred Molina. While it seems strange and even silly on the surface, the ultra-smart mollusk offers some surprisingly poignant insight on human nature and the main characters’ relationships. Most critics of the movie say that it’s overly sentimental and sometimes approaches Hallmark territory, but I’d argue that that isn’t necessarily a problem. There should be a place in filmmaking for movies like this, which are designed mostly to make you say “aww” and shed a few bittersweet tears. Anyway, the emotion is balanced well with healthy doses of both mystery and comedy.

The main focus of the film is Tova and Cameron’s relationship, which feels real and genuine thanks to the actors’ remarkable (no pun intended) chemistry. Sally Field has always been a fantastic actress, and this role is suited perfectly to her, allowing her to showcase basically the full range of emotions with a surprisingly complex character. Lewis Pullman, who has had a rapid rise to fame in the last few years, is also fantastic as Cameron, who only becomes more interesting as the story goes on. Plus, he performs a cover of Radiohead’s “I Can’t,” which was a pleasant surprise. In a world full of ever-growing conflict between people in different age groups, the intergenerational friendship between the main characters is very refreshing to see. There are also some very good supporting performances, but the main two are the ones that truly shine.

I’d recommend this movie to people who enjoy relationship-driven stories and are willing to fully invest in a film’s emotional journey. I loved this movie, and it was a very nice change of pace from the low-effort action and comedy films streaming services have been pumping out recently. I’d give Remarkably Bright Creatures an 8/10.

Photo credit: IMDB