Service Animals 20 (2005)

A family adventure film that features Hawaiian culture with a representative director and a diverse cast.

This 2024 musical film is based on the Broadway show and the 2004 film of the same name with major differences.

The social issues The Half of it takes on are handled well, between the antagonization brought on to Ellie for her race and the conflict that arises from her being gay. Both aspects of her character are built up over the course of the film and don’t seem abrupt or rushed. The film shows racism towards Ellie and her and father in varying levels, from having her schoolmates specifically address her as "Chinese girl” to the fore mentioned way her Dad is treated due to language barriers. The same can be said about Ellie being a lesbian. While she never truly “comes out” in the narrative, that does not undermine her journey of self-discovery from being meaningful. These ideas aren’t thrust upon the viewer in a preachy manor, the scenarios that occur feel believable given the rural setting. The film presents watchers with problems whom those like Ellie may face, and leaves us to sit with them and reflect.

Anna May Wong was a talented actress and a fashion icon and still had to fight for everything she had due to hatred and racism.

This powerful story shines with poetic animation, an exploration of deeper truths, and the protagonist's complex search for identity.

Despite everything it was capable of, all of these poor choices strung together amount to nothing more than a counter-productive film.