'Zola' is a Modern Black Fairytale
It’s fun, it’s energetic, but it’s also understated and vicarial. Zola is a modern black fairytale and future of black movies.

When a veteran returns to his hometown, he unexpectedly falls head over heels for a local policewoman. He’s determined to win her heart… but to do so, he must also win the approval of her three teenage daughters. It’s been a long time since he’s had people to call family, and now–home for the first time in years–he must let go of any regret or grudges he’s held onto so that he can find love and learn the true meaning of family for the first time.
It’s fun, it’s energetic, but it’s also understated and vicarial. Zola is a modern black fairytale and future of black movies.
As one of the women said in the film, friendship in your teens is “as important as any lover” and it’s clear they lived that philosophy throughout their early adult lives as well.
I have been a long-time fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe ever since it made its official debut through 2008's absolutely excellent "Iron Man". The run continued, as did my associated fandom of the films, through the utterly EPIC 2019 finale "Avengers: Endgame".
As this critic continues to look back at some of this Summer's films I have taken in, I would be remiss if I didn't mention one of the most overall unsettling trends in Hollywood over the last several years.....sequels, reboots, and remakes. Look, I am all for seeing more than one film for certain originals that made a splash, ie: "Jurassic Park", "Pirates of the Caribbean", "Transformers", etc.
The film exhibits a respect for the craft and an empathy for human tribulations that have historically been ignored.
YouTube surpasses Netflix but there is more to the story.