Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken Parent Guide

Ruby Gillman (Lana Condor) is a competitive math whiz (“mathlete”), loyal member of her friend squad, and conscientious rule-follower. Although she lives near the beach, she obeys her parents’ strict ban against ever going into the sea. She also does her best to be invisible, ascribing her blue skin to being Canadian. The truth is much harder to believe: Ruby is a kraken.

Fans of maritime literature will recognize krakens as fearsome sea monsters, prone to destroying ships and killing unlucky sailors. As we learn, this is “fake news”: the kraken are really guardians of the ocean, destined to protect the watery world from all manners of monsters, especially cunning, power-hungry mermaids.

Ruby learns the truth when her crush, Connor (Jaboukie Young-White) falls into the surf and she’s the only one close enough to rescue him. She undergoes an astonishing transformation, growing to vast size, adding an extra leg, and turning a glowing pinkish-purple color. Subsequent underwater visits bring her into contact with her Grandmamah (Jane Fonda), the Queen of the Krakens. Soon Ruby’s desire to learn the full truth and flex her powers conflicts with her own wish to live as a normal teenager and her mother’s determination to protect her from the turmoil of the deeps. Throw in a crafty mermaid, a magical trident, a curmudgeonly kraken-hunting sailor, and a prom cruise, and the scene is set for an aquatic showdown…

There aren’t a lot of surprises in this DreamWorks production. It’s vaguely disappointing that the studio that produced Shrek can’t come up with a quirkier angle on a story that’s just crying out for a less pedestrian approach. I don’t mean that Ruby Gillman is a bad film. It’s fine. Just fine. The characters are clearly drawn, the animation is bright and appealing, and the voice talent is excellent – particularly Jane Fonda as Grandmamah. (Considering Ms. Fonda’s dreadful roles this past year, maybe she should stick to voice acting in future.) The movie even delivers solid lessons about self-acceptance, the benefits of diversity, and the power of family legacies. What’s missing is the element of surprise, or perhaps enchantment.

Youngsters will probably enjoy watching the movie, but it won’t give parents the kind of comic jolt that comes from, say, The Incredibles or Shrek. This is an adequate choice for 90 air-conditioned minutes in a theater with the kids, but I think you’re better off waiting until it streams and spending your hard-earned money on a more exciting summer blockbuster. (Elemental and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse are both better films and are still playing in theaters.)

If your kids have seen the trailer and are clamoring to see the film, you can be assured that there is very little negative content aside from dramatic body transformation and some fairly extensive scenes of fantasy violence, none of which feel terribly perilous (at least to me). Parents will note that one of Ruby’s friends is a lesbian and there’s a brief moment where two girls kiss in the background. Whether you see this as a plus or not will depend entirely on your views on sexuality and diverse representation. Frankly, I think it will go right over the heads of most young moviegoers who will be fascinated by the underwater drama. Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken might not be the catch of the day, but it gives families a reasonably safe entertainment option and that’s not nothing.