Odd. Dark. Extremely funny. These were the first words that sprang to my mind as the opening sequence of The Willoughbys began. As another normal 'movie afternoon' initiated in my house, under the command of my 8 year-old-cousin, I was prepared to sleep through Shrek for the millionth time. What was my surprise when I was confronted with four red-haired, very expressive and beyond humorous characters! I sat straight in my sofa, and allowed myself to be a kid again. It was quite the ride.
The new animation film by Netflix directed by Kris Pearn and Cory Evans is an homage to true love and the concept of family that is so volatile and bigger than just the blood that runs in our veins. With a simple premise and characters that express a distinguishing look, this animation film is another win for Netflix after Klaus (Sergio Pablos, 2019).The setting is dark and, inside the house, portraits fill the walls in a daunting concern over ancestry. The parents are hideous, unbothered and too self-centred. In their hearts, there seems not to exist a place for their children. With that, the four siblings just wish to be orphan. When I heard this, I grew worried. What will kids think after watching this? Will they just assume that they can force themselves into being orphans? But then, the narrative evolved and my brows stopped frowning. The parents go away on a trap holiday, and a nanny comes into the scene. A loving nanny. A nanny that treats the Willoughbys like any mother would. She feeds them, she allows herself to enter the personality spheres of each of them and, most important of all, she shows a genuine interest and love in them. In a way, there are childless women that were born to be mothers, and there are mothers that wished they hadn't been, because, honesty above all, that was not their dream.
The Willoughbys is unique in its story; unique in its setting, unique in its characters. This is a film that sends out an important message of acceptance, where in the end, perfection is in the least expected places, where difference reigns. Four red-heads, one African American, a pink baby and a tall, candy factory owner all unite under the same roof. The foster families and the orphanages are some of the places that the siblings go through until they find their perfect family. Here, the director makes a social stance at how the system forces children into environments that do not match who they are as individuals. The Willoughbys are subject to change after change, until, in the end, the right mother comes running after them, making them feel wanted and loved. As for their real parents? They continue their own journey, the two of them and only them. So, one might say that all characters reach a happy ending, including me. As the last shot faded out, my lips curved into a surprised smile. I just thought, 'this is a good one'.
