Coda - Movie Review

Critics Score - 8 of 10

General Audience Score - 8 of 10

People with disabilities and handicapped individuals as portrayed in cinema has become a hot button issue in recent years, with movie studios taking extra care to not offend, make fun of or demean any minority or impaired group. With last year’s Sound Of Metal tackling the topic of hearing loss with such gravity and seriousness, it’s a tightrope walk for a studio to take on a film that deals with the deaf community that’s lighthearted and humorous. But Apple Plus just dropped the new film Coda, a term used for a child raised by a deaf person, and taking the deaf and hard of hearing community in an at times lighthearted and amusing way is exactly what it does. While the film treats these issues in a delicate way, it doesn’t shy away from the humor that can result from a daughter that can hear with a deaf brother and deaf parents, the results being fantastically funny and constantly amusing. Give this warm family drama-comedy a try, despite it’s predictability, it’s excellent, heartwarming and will get even the hardest heart melting, almost everyone will have absolutely no problem deciphering this movie's Coda.

We’re introduced to the family of hearing impaired characters with Ruby (Emilia Jones) singing loudly on a boat while she reels in a catch of varying fish and sorts them with her deaf brother Leo (Daniel Durant) and deaf father Frank (Troy Kotsur). The down to earth story continues with Ruby trying to fit in at school and glancing longingly at a boy, Miles (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) whom she pursues by joining Mr. V’s (Eugenio Derbez) choir practice at school. The whole ensemble is truly fabulous, the comradery and signing performances between the family feels so authentic, probably because the deaf characters are actually played by deaf actors, but the emotional connection and bond between them is real and palpable. As Ruby works on helping her family with their fishing business, makes efforts to score her man Miles and see where her love of music and singing can go with Mr. V’s help, she starts getting stretched thin and things start slipping through the cracks. The excellent direction and screenplay takes the character development into the highest echelon which helps sustain the drama and audience interest, even through some of the more mundane family interactions. As Ruby starts coming to the crossroads of some big decisions in her life involving her love of music, going to college, her love of her family and staying with the family business to help interpret for them, the movie is able to maintain a great pace through the hour and fifty minute run.

Once the curtain falls with some of the big decisions behind them, we're left in awe at how effectively touching the film was and how it was able to use such simple storytelling methods to knock this one out of the park. While the film centers around Ruby and her musical interests, the songs incorporated into the film work well but with a score that was rather subtle and lackluster. Emilia Jones is splendid but the entire cast and especially the deaf actors are really the foundation the film builds upon. As was mentioned, the direction of Sian Heder is spot on and along with his screenplay, the film stays laser focused on exactly where it's going and what it wants to say. Coda, while not a film particularly deep in meaning, the simultaneous strength and imperfection of the family shines through and the representation of the deaf community onscreen is truly a joy to behold.

SUMMARY - Like was mentioned, this film is a touching and comedic portrayal of a deaf family and is one that isn't easily forgotten. The relatability of these characters is incredible, the highs and lows the family navigates are many of the same we all encounter in life, whether hearing impaired or not. Get yourself an Apple Plus free trial and watch this film, it's easily one of the best films of the year so far and will leave you thankful you now know the real meaning of Coda.