Review of Okja (2017) by Anthony F — 11 Jul 2017

Supposedly based on a long lost script penned by Morrissey during the mid 1990's, back when the child-saves-lost-animal-movie craze was at it's peak, and the singer's star was on the...GOTCHA! Na, but it certainly feels that way. "Okja" is the latest from Korean director Bong Joon-Ho (Snowpiercer, The Host). Immediately streamed on Netflix, post-cannes, rather than being given a theatrical release (this decison was reportedly met with jeers and boos during the festival), "Okja" is one wild little flick. It basically turns the previously mentioned genre on it's head while slipping potent messages regarding commercialism, the transgressions of the meat industry and all around animal cruelty into it's loopy narrative. Its also wickedly funny to the point of being juvenile, especially given the launguage and peril that our child hero Meija and her beloved animal are put through. Oh, and said animal here is an adorable, genetically engineered, CG rendered super-pig the size of a hippo.

This all probably sounds ludicrous, but the game supporting cast keeps everything moving in the right direction. Jake Gyllenhaal is hoot as an "animal loving" TV personality with a secret contempt for all things with 4 legs (and a hilarious voice to boot). Tilda Swinton plays a dual villain role as truly wretched, corrupt twin sisters. Paul Dano is pretty much doing his best Paul Dano, leading a hopeless group of hilariously non-violent (you'll see) animal rights activists who keep trying and failing to help poor Meija get her pig back. The positively wrenching 3rd act nearly ends on a sour note before a ray of hope unexpectedly arrives at the last second (no spoilers here). All in all, it might not be a masterpiece, but its got cult-classic written all over it.