REVIEW: ‘Teenage Kraken’ makes modest use of fun concept

Ruby Gillman is the latest kraken to enter pop culture, joining the rum, the hockey team and the krakens from “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Clash of the Titans.”

Ruby (Lana Condor) is the protagonist of “Teenage Kraken,” a blue-skinned water creature that lives on land with her parents and brother. Though they come from the sea, the family fits in on land, pretending to be regular people, and manage to pull it off for the most part.

However, Ruby still struggles to fully fit in and that’s compounded by being an awkward teenager. She starts to come into her own, though, when she uncovers a family secret: that she can become the giant sea creature of legend, something that only those in her bloodline can do.

One part “Turning Red,” one part “Luca,” a dash of “Little Mermaid,” a pinch of “Sky High” and then sprinkle some bits of kaiju genre on top. That’s basically the recipe that was mixed together to create “Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken.” The film features a story that not only feels generic, but in some cases, derivative.

There are many similarities to the aforementioned movies, and one can guess fairly quickly what direction this whale of a tale is going. It’s disappointing that the movie ends up so pedestrian, too, when the ideas at play are creative. Yes the teen monster thing isn’t exactly new, but having the protagonist be a kaiju is fresh take.

Despite being able to reach the depths of the ocean, though, Ruby Gillman’s journey ends up being a bit shallow. One wishes there had been more complexities revolving around her relationships with her group of friends as well as Chelsea, a mermaid character voiced by Annie Murphy.

It’s all a shame because the movie does have some strengths. The matriarchal dynamic at play with Ruby finding a mentor with her grandmother (Jane Fonda) and butting heads with her mother Agatha (Toni Collette) over her kraken powers makes for a good emotional core.

The main protagonist herself is quite good, too. Ruby is a fun, charming protagonist with a great mix of teenage angst and anxiety, as well as a need for some excitement and adventure. Condor does a lot of heavy lifting, giving an impassioned performance that makes the character relatable. She gets across the character’s desire to fit in, date her crush and even break some rules.

The supporting characters are a little more hit or miss. As previously stated, Ruby’s relationships with her mother and grandmother are important to the movie and both characters work well enough, with each respective actress getting the right emotions across. Less memorable, though, was Ruby’s somewhat bumbling father Arthur, and a local boat captain obsessed with sea monsters. Both were rather one note.

One can appreciate the animation, though. The character designs for the kraken family is unique, especially Ruby who in her normal form has this lanky, floppy look that fits with her awkward teen character’s nature. The krakens, meanwhile, appear with vibrant, luminescent, neon colors that add a lot of visual personality to the movie.

“Teenage Kraken” feels like a missed opportunity. There’s a strong protagonist full of potential and it makes a viewer wish the filmmakers pushed the boundaries a bit more. As it is, the story of “Ruby Gillman” is scratching the surface of average, but with maybe more nuance when it came to the villain and extending the runtime a tad to flesh things out, it could have been a stronger feature. 2.8 out of 5.

Author: Matthew Liedke

Journalist and film critic in Minnesota. Graduate of Rainy River College and Minnesota State University in Moorhead. Outside of movies I also enjoy sports, craft beers and the occasional video game. View all posts by Matthew Liedke