Purely by accident, I had come across  “Remarkably Bright Creatures” in Netflix’s upcoming film releases without having seen any marketing or promotion for the film prior to my inadvertent sighting. Now, this is a particularly shocking circumstance considering the book this film was adapted from, an instant success from debut author Shelby Van Pelt, has been praised for ages since its release in early 2022.

Presumably, many fans of the book weren’t even made aware this adaptation would be coming due to the severe lack of advertisement for it, a real shame considering how phenomenal and heartwarming the film turned out to be.

“Remarkably Bright Creatures” has been praised for its thought-provoking plot and deep characters, evoking heartbreaking emotions in many audiences. The story follows Tova, an old widow who is tormented by the loss of her son. In her effort to remain independent without aid from any of her friends, Tova works as the janitor at the local aquarium in the small seaside town she lives in.

Living at this aquarium is an inquisitive and intelligent octopus named Marcellus, who’s spending the remainder of his days in his habitat, studying the humans who stumble in and out of the aquarium. Tova happens to be especially interesting for Marcellus, and the thoughtful octopus begins a mission to help Tova heal the pain in her heart.

Marcellus acts as the film’s omniscient narrator, chiming in throughout the sequencing of events to give his insight and deliberations. He’s a presence the audience can’t help but enjoy, and between Marcellus’s escaping antics and his knowledgeable observations on human nature, he becomes a character that the audience is easily attached to.

What makes this story so compelling is the characters and their journeys throughout the narrative. Each character has a question in their past they desire to find answers to and resolve, and the web of interconnected experiences and relationships that blossoms is satisfying to witness grow and develop.

Tova’s life is unfurled to the audience in small waves, with little information given about her past at a time. I couldn’t help but become increasingly intrigued by Tova’s backstory due to this, and the emotions Sally Field, who plays Tova, was able to convey were beautiful.

Plus, how Tova’s life started to intertwine with the younger man, Cameron, a nomad on a quest to find his father, was gorgeous. Cameron’s story on its own is another complicated journey of emotions, only heightened by his interactions with Tova and their growing connection from working together at the aquarium to becoming true friends.

Lewis Pullman plays Cameron, and he fits the role well. However, Pullman’s portrayal of Cameron was intensified by Field’s performance, and I could have seen some more vivid acting from Pullman. Despite this, his character still came across well enough, and Pullman is still a good actor who has shown some great range in his recent roles.

Besides the characters, I also really enjoyed the setting in which “Remarkably Bright Creatures” takes place. The secluded seaside town tucked away in a pod of flourishing nature gives off major small-town vibes, with all of the characters knowing each other and each other’s gossip in the town.

There are a few scenes in the film where the environmental scenery is really emphasized well, including one scene where Tova and Cameron are driving Tova’s bright yellow car down an empty road on a cliffside, with the sea churning beside them. The contrast between the dramatic yellow car and the deep blue sea was a nice play with colors, something that the rest of the film does satisfyingly as well.

With several scenes taking place inside the aquarium Tova and Cameron work at, the colorful array of jellyfish and corals adds bright charm to the film. Plus, as a lover of sea creatures and aquariums, I found these scenes of the creatures quite enjoyable.

“Remarkably Bright Creatures” is a lovely tale of understanding what it means to be home and finding a close-knit family. The story is a cute one, and even if it may be heartbreaking at times, by the end of the film, the audience’s heart has been warmed with hope.