Where’s a neighbor with a Gran Torino when you need one?
This coming-of-age film tells the story of Chris Wang, a 13-year-old who spends time making Youtube videos with his friends. When not out with a camera, Chris is at home with his mother (Joan Chen), grandmother (Chang Li Hua) and sister (Shirley Chen) in the Bay Area while his father works in Taiwan.
As his summer off from school progresses, Chris (Izaac Wang)has his ups and downs with his family, friends and even with his hobby. With the latter, Chris starts to film some skateboarders, but even then, fitting in can be tough.
Coming of age films often feel nostalgic and relatable, and this one is no different. They take an audience back to that awkward time of being a teen, and can often make a statement about the human condition during that time. It’s even better when they’re technically well made.
“Didi” is such a movie. There’s certinaly filmmaking prowess at play, showing the chaotic nature of that age, capturing what the technology was like at the time with online chats and overall featuring emotional moments. It also has relatable scenes of a character having difficulty talking to a crush and not knowing how to connect with older kids.
Unfortunately, that’s where the praise has to end with this one. Despite having moments that capture the rebellious nature of that age and the picture being technically sound, “Didi” can be a film that’s not really that satisfying to watch.
A lot of coming of age films have a protagonist with some issues, whether it’s difficulty fitting in or having some butting of heads with families. But they also commonly have redeeming qualities, and at the end of the day are good kids just trying to make their way in the world. Usually, they also grow up a bit and become better by the end of the movie.
There have been a few good examples over the last decade, such as “The Way, Way Back,” Lady Bird” “Eighth Grade” and “Boyhood.” Unfortunately, unlike those films, the main character in “Didi” is really not that likable at all.
Chris comes across as really self-serving, acts rather rude often and for most of the movie digs his own graves when it comes to problems, then he usually turns it around and blames others. He doesn’t exactly improve much over the course of the movie, either. There’s an interaction near the end where it looks like he’s learned nothing.
It’s really a shame that the movie had no older male role model who could have set him up better. But this movie was autobiographical for the director Sean Wang so it maybe that just wasn’t a lived experience he had.
In all fairness, Izzaac Wang does deserve credit for a good portrayal. As a young actor, he’s effective at showing the emotion, awkwardness and angst that can come with that age. Joan Chen and Shirley Chen were also quite good in the film.
There are some nice, moving scenes showing the performers interacting as their characters, too. Perhaps they could have been plotted out a bit better for a more well-structured arc for the protagonist. But still, some interpersonal scenes do work.
This is a technically well-made indie coming-of-age darling that a person wants to a great cinematic experience out of. Yet, as this movie goes on, it gets tougher and tougher to appreciate, as it’s regularly being undercut by its main character who is regularly unpleasant. It tends to drag down the enjoyment of the picture, especially compared to others in the genre. 2.5 out of 5.
Matthew Liedke on Film 
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