Didi – REVIEW

As a child of the late 90s and early 2000s, Didi has struck a chord with me that few films have managed to do. The nostalgia it evokes is palpable, transporting me back to those carefree days of summer before responsibilities began to pile up. The film’s portrayal of adolescence, especially for an Asian American boy like Chris Wang, resonates deeply with my own experiences.

There’s a lot to like about Didi right from the start – those lazy summer days just as your about to become a teenager where running around yelling, mucking about with bangers, playing football, skateboarding and just getting up to no good before the realization that school’s about to get serious. It’s a slim slice of life where responsibility is just an awkward word in a spelling test. As time goes on each generation of audiences can identify with a different coming of age film whether it be Stand By Me to Superbad and now we have Didi, a throwback to 2008, a time when the internet was really beginning to take off with sites like My Space, a flip phone was THE phone to have and Jimmy Saville was still that innocuous yet peculiar shell suit wearing pensioner on TV.

Chris Wang, known as Isaac Wang, is a 13-year-old Asian American boy residing with his mom, soon-to-be college-bound sister, and elderly grandmother while his father is working overseas in Taiwan. The responsibilities of managing a challenging mother-in-law and two squabbling siblings fall on the mom, but it’s Chris who is making an effort to make an impact among uncertain friends. His motley crew of friends are all navigating adolescence, teasing each other with harsh banter, striving to act tough like Justin Bieber. The story takes a turn as Chris develops feelings for a girl named Mada (Mahaela Park) and ventures into the world of romance. His awkward attempts, such as learning how to kiss from a YouTube video, provide amusing moments. However, the script is subtly clever, with seemingly insignificant remarks carrying great weight, like when Chris believes he’s growing closer to Mada, only for her to say, “You’re pretty cute…for an Asian.”

In this movie, I found Isaac Wang and Joan Chen’s performances particularly noteworthy, especially their dynamic as mother and son. Their interactions, reminiscent of those many of us who had older siblings might remember, are a relatable highlight. The film starts off light-hearted, filled with humorous moments that resonate, but as Chris forms transient friendships, these laughs gradually fade. His encounters with skaters lead him to offer his services for their YouTube channel, capturing amusing clips of friends making funny faces or street elders yelling. However, he swiftly deletes these clips when they come to watch the skater videos, realizing they didn’t quite fit the intended narrative.

As a child of the digital age myself, I found Wang and Chen’s performances to be a nostalgic reminder of a simpler time online, filled with innocence and raw emotions that still resonate today. While Didi may not have the emotional depth of Stand By Me, it captures the social dynamics of adolescence in a way that feels authentic and relatable. I believe that anyone who has gone through puberty can relate to the experiences portrayed in this film, making it a timeless piece that transcends cultural boundaries. Overall, I would highly recommend Didi as an engaging and thought-provoking watch for anyone looking to explore the complexities of growing up in today’s digital world.

Here’s the Didi trailer……

2024-08-02 02:23

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