A Cluttered Melodrama

Key Points:

• "Remarkably Bright Creatures," based on Shelby Van Pelt’s 2022 bestseller, is a sentimental Netflix film narrated by Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus voiced by Alfred Molina, who insightfully observes the human characters’ emotional struggles.
• The story centers on Tova (Sally Field), a grieving widow and aquarium cleaner, and Cameron (Lewis Pullman), a drifter filling in for her, whose unlikely friendship unfolds amid a small-town mystery connected to Tova’s past.
• While the film showcases strong performances from Field and Pullman, it relies heavily on melodramatic coincidences, underdeveloped secondary characters, and extensive voiceover narration that some viewers may find contrived or overly sentimental.
• Director Olivia Newman, known for adapting populist literature with a gentle touch, delivers a visually cozy and faithful adaptation that appeals to fans of the novel but may feel lacking in dramatic tension or complexity to others.
• Overall, "Remarkably Bright Creatures" offers a warm, if sometimes overly whimsical, exploration of grief and connection, anchored by its unique octopus narrator and heartfelt lead performances.