Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Remarkably Bright Creatures is on Netflix.
Tova is an elderly widow living in a beautiful town along the coast, spending her time working at the local aquarium, where she is best friends with Marcellus, an incredibly intelligent Pacific octopus. When she hurts her leg, she is replaced by Cameron, a musician new to town who is living in a camper van and in need of extra income. But Tova is unable to keep away from the aquarium, so she mentors Cameron in “the right way” of doing things while forming an almost guardian-like bond with the young, lost man.
Based on Shelby Van Pelt’s book of the same name, ‘Remarkably Bright Creatures’ is directed by Olivia Newman (‘Where The Crawdads Sing’, ‘First Match’) and stars Sally Field as the reclusive Tova, while Lewis Pullman plays Cameron, the slightly scruffy new man who arrives in her town to look for someone that apparently owes him money.
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The best part about ‘Remarkably Bright Creatures’? It is narrated by Marcellus, the octopus, memorably voiced by Alfred Molina in a worldly wise tone that commands viewer attention. Well, at least, that’s the best part for those who enjoy the quirky idea of an animal narrating the slow forming friendship between a reclusive old lady and an orphan in need of some direction in his life.
Tova is the classic introverted character: she avoids human contact as much as possible, burying herself in work at the aquarium and struggling to move on from past trauma, even though she belongs to a knitting group whose members adore her. She often confides in Marcellus and even considers selling her gorgeous sea-facing home to leave the town behind, as it holds too many painful memories.
Cameron, on the other hand, is a struggling musician who is nearly broke, with no family, no home, and a van that is on the verge of falling apart. These clashing personalities of the lead characters offer some comedic moments through the runtime of ‘Remarkably Bright Creatures’. Though Cameron gets the aquarium job on Ethan’s (Colm Meaney) recommendation, a friendly, loud Irish small-business owner whose store Cameron gets a coffee at, and next thing you know, the two men are already friends.
Marcellus quickly realizes that Tova and Cameron might be exactly what the other needs, even if neither of them sees it at first. Tova finds Cameron careless and immature, particularly because he initially treats his aquarium cleaning job with very little seriousness. Cameron, meanwhile, cannot stand Tova constantly hovering over him and criticizing how he works. Yet as the two spend more time together and slowly open up about their lives, irritation gradually gives way to empathy and genuine affection.
The coastal atmosphere of ‘Remarkably Bright Creatures’ is beautifully captured, and Marcellus remains a constant source of charm through his witty narration and mischievous aquarium antics. While I have not read the original book, this adaptation delivers a lovely feel-good story about coping with loss and finding comfort in both old and new friendships.
Will Tova truly leave her hometown behind, and can Cameron finally find what he has been searching for? These become the central questions explored by the story, alongside the aging Marcellus’ own quiet mission to help give Tova the happy ending she deserves. Because even though the octopus often finds the rituals and routines of the human world mundane, strange, and exhausting, he also believes that people can sometimes be remarkably bright creatures, ones worth helping after all.
A very sentimental and unexpected twist arrives in the film’s climactic moments, one that feels a little too convenient. But then again, life is full of strange and unbelievable coincidences. Besides, it leads to a warm and satisfying ending, so it’s easy to embrace.
Watch Remarkably Bright Creatures on Netflix.
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