John Green books in the mid-2010s had an irresistible quality to them, paving the way for a niche of young adult tearjerker that was hard to replicate. Green’s prose truly struck a cord for his sharp wit and intricate characterwork. Striking while the iron was hot, the first film based on a Green property arrived in the form of 2014’s excellent The Fault in Our Stars. With Max’s 2024 entry Turtles All the Way Down, a decade of book-to-film adaptations and multiple Green cinematic interpretations have left the space feeling more than a bit overcrowded. Based on Green’s 2017 novel of the same name, we follow a teenage girl uniquely named Aza (Isabela Merced) as she navigates her complicated anxieties and obsessive compulsive disorder. A sprinkle of young love, courtesy of her hunky former campmate, Davis (Felix Mallard), and a dash of mystery a la Paper Towns add another layer to the rather simplistic coming-of-age drama. More of a character study than a schmaltzy teen romance, Turtles All the Way Down grapples with delicate subject matter through a familiar lens of sweetness and understanding.
Constantly at war with the voices in her own head, Aza cannot help but obsess over the “glorified bacteria colony” that comprises her body. An episode may come on at the most unlikely of times, such as at the lunch table with bestie Daisy (Cree Cicchino), or even when daydreaming about making out with Davis. She sees a therapist regularly to help her overcome these demons. How will Aza’s nerves cope when the opportunity of a lifetime rises to the surface? Minneapolis millionaire Russell Pickett has gone missing, and authorities are offering a staggering $100,000 reward for anyone with information about his whereabouts. Once Aza realizes that Davis is Pickett’s son, she and Daisy decide the reward could be worth reconnecting with Davis.
On the one hand, the turn this takes could have been a full-on mystery, wherein both Daisy and Aza try to coax more information about Pickett from Davis and his family. That was certainly the venue I expected, with an almost She’s the Man-esque twist to a love story blossoming between the duo. Green’s source material makes a pivot from expectations, as Davis almost immediately offers the full $100,000 for Aza not to share any information about his father to anyone. Naturally, Aza decides to split the money with Daisy so they can invest in their futures. Can Aza manage to overcome her OCD enough to date Davis for real? Will the all-consuming bacteria allow Aza to break free long enough to consider a serious relationship?
The answers to these questions seem obvious, and play out in a similar manner as expected. These sections are not without their cute moments. In the title-defining philosophical explanation behind the title Turtles All the Way Down, Davis takes Aza in a private plane to attend the class of the brilliant Professor Lucia Abbott (J. Smith Cameron). There seems to be little reason for the Professor’s presence, save for potentially giving Aza the major confidence boost she needed all along. The pep talk Abbott gives to Aza injects something within her soul, and in a moment of spontaneity, Aza passionately embraces Davis for the first time. The bacterial thoughts flooding her mind are depicted onscreen by close-ups of organisms and literal bacteria. Hearing Aza’s own voice being the one that constantly brings her down is also unnerving, to say the least.
The scattered script from Elizabeth Berger and Isaac Aptaker dabbles into many extraneous subplots that probably worked better on the page. Aza’s relationship with her mother, which should be touching and important, feels a bit half baked. So too does Daisy’s budding relationship with their aspiring artist pal, Mycal (Maliq Johnson). On the flip side, some aspects shine, such as the frequent trips to Applebees, or Daisy’s Star Wars fanfiction reflecting real-life moments she shared with Aza. Davis and Aza share many cutesy moments, even when her OCD threatens to burn it all to the ground. John Green shows up for a fun cameo as a gym teacher.
Overall, the potent messaging and coming-of-age machinations make Turtles All the Way Down particularly easy to enjoy. Many people cope with anxiety and mental issues, so seeing these stories more normalized speaks to the importance of the topic. Missed opportunities aside, John Green’s prose serve as the framework for an easy young adult hit that should win over Gen Z. Perhaps the meaning held within will save a life. Personally, I do not think the narrative reaches the emotional heights of The Fault in Our Stars, nor does it produce a character as maddening as Margo Roth Spiegelman in Paper Towns. Yet, this drama from director Hannah Marks (Mark, Mary + Some Other People) may just become a new favorite streaming release.
Fall in line with Turtles All the Way Down, streaming exclusively for Max subscribers on Thursday, May 2nd.
