"CODA": Movie Review
Written By Alex Greenbaum
Authenticity doesn't always translate to quality. "CODA" has admirably cast three deaf actors to display a family struggling to make ends meet. But the quality of the film is nothing more than a Hallmark nightmare. Each written line is as unbelievable as the next and doesn't work as a coming of age story nor as a step in the right direction for the deaf community. Similar to "Crazy Rich Asians", I felt a disappointment that this type of material does more damage than good to communities trying to make a noticable mark in Hollywood.
Based on the French film released in 2014 called the "The Bélier Family", "CODA" revolves around a young girl whose potential as a singer proves to be difficult to pursue, as her deaf father, mother and brother all rely on her for sign language. At the core, there is a wonderful film that could've emulated the emotional resonance of a film like "We Bought A Zoo". Instead we are relegated to such spoon feeding nonsense with a screenplay by Sian Heder that made me roll my eyes frequently.
Emilia Jones, as the one family member who isn't deaf, is a standout in her role and has a few quality moments that flesh out her character. Yet every other performance is as bad as the next, partially because of how poorly each role is written, falling way short of its potential intrigue. And it doesn't help that Eugenio Derbez's abysmal display of acting as the energetic music teacher made me slouch into my seat and cover my eyes with embarrassment.
American films that have become adapted from prior international works usually rub me the wrong way. These lazy remakes are just a simple money grab for the studios and usually do next to nothing to improve upon the original material. "CODA" uses its subject matter to separate itself from the crowd and in all probability be nominated for best picture at the Academy Awards. In reality, this is nothing more than a Hallmark movie you'd come across while channel flipping.
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