Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken
Annie Murphy and Lana Condor lead the voice cast in RUBY GILLMAN, TEENAGE KRAKEN. (Photo: Universal Pictures)
In trying to connect its deep-sea mythology to the landbound real world, Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken remains stuck in the shallow end.
Aimed more at impressionable youngsters than eye-rolling adults, this animated saga — equal parts offbeat coming-of-age comedy and good-versus-evil fantasy adventure — is mildly amusing yet struggles when it strains to make a deeper emotional impact beyond its preteen target audience.
The story puts a twist on adolescent angst in the social-media age as it’s set in a seaside village where Ruby (voiced by Lana Candor) is your typical awkward and slightly nerdy teenager with a primary goal of asking her skater crush (Jaboukie White-Young) to prom.
Yet her family is hiding a secret, which is why Ruby’s overprotective mother (Toni Collette) forbids her from swimming in the nearby ocean. When she learns the hard way that she’s a descendant of giant sea creatures known as kraken, her issues go beyond embarrassment.
At first, Ruby harbors resentment toward her mother: “All this time you told me we were hiding from monsters, and it turns out I’m the monster!”
Assisted by a nosy uncle (Sam Richardson), Ruby becomes determined to learn more about her heritage, discovering that she’s set to inherit the throne from her grandmother (Jane Fonda) as kraken royalty charged with protecting their species from the evil mermaids.
Does she accept the challenge or just want to return to life on land? As she befriends a mysterious new girl (Annie Murphy), her heart becomes torn and choosing her destiny isn’t that simple.
Children can appreciate the colorful and crisply detailed animation with exaggerated character features and movements, along with quirky shapeshifting sidekicks.
After all, the intended demographic seems to be kids younger than the protagonist, particularly those with short attention spans. The rapid-fire barrage of sight gags and one-liners contributes to a strategy of filling every frame with as much hyperactive mayhem as possible.
Any lessons about legacy, loyalty, and self-esteem are practically drowned out. As directed by the tandem of Faryn Pearl and Kirk DeMicco (The Croods), the result is more exhausting than endearing.
While its lead character learns to embrace standing out rather than fitting in, you wish Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken had done the same.
Rated PG, 91 minutes.