Turning Red (2022)

Growing up is a beast.

PG
1h 40m

Directed by: Domee Shi
Story: Julia Cho
Premiered: March 10, 2022
Language: English
Status: Released
Budget: $175,000,000.00
Country: United States of America

Turning Red

7.3/10 (5594 vote)

★★★★★★★★★★

Production: Pixar

Spoiler

In the vibrant city of Toronto, 2002, we meet the spirited 13-year-old Mei Lin "Mei" Lee, voiced by Rosalie Chang. Mei, a Chinese-Canadian girl, shares her perspective on the importance of honoring one's parents, which she feels compelled to do. This sense of duty has led her to excel academically, even if some of her classmates find her quirks a bit off-putting. Mei's social circle includes her best friends: the easygoing Miriam (Ava Morse), the deadpan Priya (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan), and the energetic Abby (Hyein Park).

During a visit to a local convenience store, the girls become enamored with the clerk, Devon (Addie Chandler), while Mei remains indifferent. Instead, she excitedly talks about their favorite boy band, 4*Town, which features members Robaire (Jordan Fisher), Jesse (Finneas O’Connell), Tae Young (Grayson Villanueva), Aaron T (Josh Levi), and Aaron Z (Topher Ngo). Despite her friends’ invitations to hang out, Mei feels obligated to return home to help with chores, prompting her friends to point out that she often prioritizes her mother's wishes over her own desires.

Mei lives with her parents, Ming (Sandra Oh) and Jin (Orion Lee), in a temple dedicated to the red panda, a significant cultural symbol. The family takes a moment to honor their ancestor, Sun Yee, through prayer. Mei's relationship with her mother is particularly intense; she seeks Ming's approval in all aspects of her life, but Ming is often dismissive of Mei’s interests and friendships, viewing them as negative influences.

After a night spent watching a soap opera with her mother, Mei retreats to her room, where she fantasizes about Devon and sketches romantic images of him. When Ming discovers these drawings, she misinterprets them as evidence of Mei being taken advantage of by an older boy. In a fit of protective fury, Ming confronts Devon at the store, showcasing Mei's drawings to the embarrassment of her daughter, especially in front of her school rival, Tyler (Tristan Allerick Chen).

That night, Mei experiences a vivid nightmare, and upon waking, she finds herself transformed into a colossal red panda. In a panic, she tries to conceal her new form, but Ming, hearing the commotion, mistakenly believes Mei is experiencing her first period. Mei manages to calm herself and revert to her human form, but the incident marks the beginning of her struggle with this unexpected transformation.

At school, Mei attempts to maintain her composure despite Tyler's taunts, who spreads her drawings around. Her efforts are further complicated when Ming arrives at school, causing a scene as she tries to deliver menstrual products to her daughter, leading Mei to transform into a panda once more. In her panic, she escapes home, where her parents discover her secret.

Ming reveals to Mei that the ability to transform into a red panda is a family legacy passed down through generations, a gift from their ancestor Sun Yee meant to protect the family during turbulent times. To control this power, a ritual must be performed during the next Red Moon, which will seal Mei's panda spirit in a charm. To prevent further chaos, Ming and Jin remove all of Mei's furniture, leaving her with just a mattress.

The following day, Mei's friends visit and find her in her panda form. Rather than being frightened, they find her adorable, and their support helps Mei regain control over her transformations. They sing a 4Town song, which brings Mei back to her human self. The excitement escalates when they learn that 4Town will be performing in Toronto on May 18th, and the girls decide to raise money for concert tickets.

After her friends leave, Mei asks her parents for a ticket to the concert, but Ming refuses. Shortly after, Mei's grandmother, Wu (Wai Ching Ho), calls, having seen news of Mei's panda antics, and plans to visit, much to Ming's dismay.

At school, the girls devise a plan to attend the concert without Ming's knowledge. However, when a classmate named Stacy (Lily Sanfelippo) witnesses Mei transform into a panda, the girls decide to capitalize on Mei's unique ability to earn money for the tickets. They hide their intentions from Ming by pretending to participate in a mathletes program. Tyler, having seen Mei's panda form, pressures her to appear at his birthday party, threatening to expose her secret unless she agrees to bring her panda self.

On the night of the party, Mei tells her mother she will be with friends, but Ming insists on accompanying her. In a moment of defiance, Mei tells her mother she doesn’t want her to come. Meanwhile, Ming's relatives arrive, including her mother Wu and Mei's aunts, who fuss over her in preparation for the ritual. Mei pretends to go to bed but sneaks out to attend Tyler's party.

At the party, Mei initially wears a cardboard costume to disguise her panda form, but when her friends express disappointment about missing the concert, she decides to embrace her panda identity. While enjoying herself, Mei's absence is soon discovered by Ming, who finds evidence of Mei's secret activities, leading to a confrontation with Tyler's parents.

As the ritual night approaches, Mei's friends attend the concert without her. Mei is at home, preparing for the ritual with her family. Jin discovers a video of Mei as a panda enjoying time with her friends, prompting him to encourage her to make her own choices.

The ritual begins with Mei standing in a circle as her family sings, and Mr. Gao (James Hong) attempts to seal her panda spirit. However, Mei hesitates when she realizes she doesn’t want to lose this part of herself. In a moment of rebellion, she breaks free from the circle, causing chaos that results in Ming's own panda spirit being released.

As Mei uses her powers to reach the SkyDome for the concert, she finds her friends and attempts to apologize. They remind her of their bond, and they all share a moment of reconciliation. However, the concert is interrupted by a gigantic Panda-Ming, causing panic among the audience. In the midst of the chaos, Mei fights against her mother, asserting that her panda identity was her own choice, not influenced by her friends.

To save the day, Mei's family joins forces with her friends, and even 4*Town, to channel their energy and help restore order. They sing together, empowering Mei to confront her past and mend her relationship with her mother. In a heartfelt moment, Mei guides her mother through their shared struggles, leading to a resolution that allows both women to embrace their identities.

In the aftermath, Mei's family uses the temple's profits to help rebuild the SkyDome, turning Mei's transformation into a tourist attraction. Tyler becomes part of the girls' friend group, and the film concludes with Mei confidently stepping into her own identity, sharing a meaningful glance with her mother, who now accepts her daughter's uniqueness. The final scene features a photo of the girls with 4*Town, as Mei reflects on the importance of embracing one's wild and weird side.