Remarkably Bright Creatures

Rated PG-13 • Netflix

Remarkably Bright Creatures is a near-­perfect adaptation of Shelby Van Pelt’s endearing novel, replete with comedic moments and an emotional arc that will ensure your eyes produce enough saltwater to fill a tank at the Sowell Bay Aquarium.

The story centers on three characters and their unlikely relationships: an elderly woman who cleans the aquarium, a young man with a troubled past, and an octopus with a keen sense of humor, intelligence, and compassion. Sally Field beautifully brings Tova Sullivan to life, creating a playful chemistry with the hapless young Cameron Cassmore (Lewis Pullman), who stumbles into the coastal town of Sowell Bay while chasing rumors of a father he never knew. As Tova tutors him in the art of spotless scrubbing, they discover they are bound together in their grief over loved ones lost: Tova’s son and Cameron’s parentless upbringing. Those who appreciate Spider-Man villains will be thrilled that Alfred Molina, who played Doc Ock, voices Marcellus, the giant Pacific octopus around whom much of the drama unfolds.

And those familiar with the book will be glad to discover the movie has smoothed over some of its crude edges. This well-crafted adaptation shows the characters finding solace and healing in one another’s company, and it sharpens the narrative into a more credible tale where Marcellus is wise and insightful but not to an outlandish extent. Creative cinematography captures the octopus’s perspective, as he looks up at his human companions through watery, fading eyes and uses the last vestiges of his strength to complete his self-­appointed mission: to bring peace to the woman who has spent her twilight years tending to him. It is a remarkably wonderful tale.