Didiis finally streaming, and the 96% fresh coming-of-age drama is gathering plenty of hype as one of the year’s best movies. The story follows a young boy named Didi, who learns the importance of friendship, family, and accepting yourself during his final summer before high school begins.It’s a powerful story of self-worth and individualism, which has plenty of relatable moments that make it a breezy and entertaining watch for all audiences. Just like thevery best coming-of-age movies, it uses humor and relatability to explore several important, mature themes.
Didiis the feature-length debut of director Sean Wang, who became known for his successful short filmsSundayandHAGS (Have A Good Summer). The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, where it opened to excellent reviews and ultimately received the US Dramatic Audience Award.Didi’sportrayal of the Asian-American experienceis a perfect reflection of many people’s lives, and despite being set in the early 2000s,the film still feels extremely topicaland relevant today.
For Fans Of…
Didi’s lead actor Izaak Wang previously appeared inGood Boys,Clifford and the Big Red Dog,andRaya and the Last Dragon.
Dìdi
Cast
During the summer before starting high school, 13-year-old Chris Wang navigates the complexities of adolescence in a Northern California suburb. As he experiments with skating, social media, and first crushes, he also grapples with family dynamics and the pressures of growing up as a Taiwanese American. The story explores Chris’s journey of self-discovery, filled with both humor and heartfelt moments, while highlighting the cultural and emotional challenges he faces.
Sundance’s big hit is now streaming on Peacock, and it’s the perfect blend of entertainment and emotional storytelling for your next movie night. The film does a brilliant job of mixing comedy with drama, following the character of Didi through every aspect of his life: whether that’s talking to his school crush, arguing with his family, or trying to make friends on the street.There are so many small scenes that will resonate with audiencesbecause of how grounded and real they are, with everybody finding something in here that reflects their own childhood experience.
WhileDidifocuses closely on the Asian-American experience and dives closely into the benefits and challenges of the protagonist’s family situation, it’s still a universal story that speaks to adolescence in general. It’s an extremelyunderrated coming-of-age moviethat feels surprisingly real, which is a testament to both the talent of the ensemble cast and the empathy of Sean Wang as a writer and director.The film is like a time capsule, capturing a very specific period of time in everybody’s lives and presenting it with such authenticity that it feels like you’ve traveled right back there.
Sean Wang’s Didiaims to subvert these tropes simply by remaining personally authentic. Whereas the “stinky lunch” and immigrant stories favor a white audience, Wang’s directorial debut feels as if it were made by and made for the people in the film. It never prances into social justice conjectures and restrains from preachy overtures. It stays true to its homegrown qualities and never strays from the beaten path. -Kevin Kodama,ScreenRant
However, a great story isn’t enough to make a great movie - what really allowsDidito shine is Wang’s keen eye for style, presenting some fresh aesthetic choices that make the movie stand out from the crowd. Whether that’s time-accurate needle drops, plenty of authentic production design, or the unique editing decisions throughout the story, there’s always something to catch the audience’s eye.The film is simply brimming with charm, and there’s enough substance to keep the viewer engaged from start to finish.
It’s the complex dynamics betweenDidi’s central characters that drive the story forward; the film’s protagonist is caught between himself, his family, his friends and his crush. This could have easily become too complicated and uninteresting in the wrong hands, butWang ensures that his audience immediately cares about this characterand his decisions by presenting him as overwhelmingly human: he’s flawed, he makes mistakes, but he’s just like everybody else at his age.
Why Critics & Audiences On Rotten Tomatoes Love Dìdi
The Film Has A Fantastic Score On Rotten Tomatoes
Didiis easily one of the best movies to have been released so far in 2024, and that’s clear from the film’s Rotten Tomatoes score. Both critics and audiences alike are raving over the project, with the film gathering a 96% fresh rating on the popular website. While it’s surprising that a film with such high ratings isn’t being talked about more,it’s that underrated charm that makes the film so easy to root for. It’s small and intimate, with a story that touches on plenty of personal themes:Didiis the kind of film that’s so easy to love.
$5,099,000
96%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
92%
There’s a whole generation ofcoming-of-age movies that define millennials, butDidifeels like a perfect counterpart to represent the younger generation. It’s so firmly rooted in its time era, with the outdated technology and lack of social media creating a powerful sense of nostalgia that plays an important role in the story. This is just one reason that critics have fallen so clearly in love with the movie - all of the technical excellence comes second to the emotional core that resonates so powerfully.
