CODA (2021) Movie Drinking Game
Take a Drink: every time Ruby Sings.
Do a Shot: every time sex between Frank and Jackie is mentioned.
Take a Drink: for every boat scene.
Do a Shot: every time you cry.
By: Movie Snurb (Two Beers) –
CODA (which stands for Child of Deaf Adults) is a story about Ruby, the only hearing person in her family. Her father Frank (Troy Kotsur) and brother Leo (Daniel Durant) are fishermen and her mother Jackie (Marlee Matlin) is their bookkeeper. They live in a small harbor town in Massachusetts. Ruby loves to sing and in her senior year of high school decides to go out for the school choir. Her teacher (Eugenio Derbez) believes she has real talent and wants to coach her so she can get into the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Her parents can’t understand why she wants to leave, they have never heard her sing. They think she should stay home and work on their boat because they need a hearing person on board at all times.
A Toast
If the story sounds like a similar version to several other coming of age tales, you would be correct, but damn if this didn’t still work. Sian Heder knew exactly where the emotional beats needed to be and how to make this different enough to not feel so similar to other films like this. The main obvious way is setting this in a world of a deaf family minus the daughter Ruby. It gave another shade of color to the whole “My parents do not understand me” theme while also giving us some genuinely funny and original moments, like the scene at the doctor’s office. Since Ruby has to be the interpreter for the family, she has to go to their doctor’s appointment. Then she has to tell her parents they have jock itch and they can’t have sex for two weeks. It’s awkward and hilarious.
Another reason this film’s emotional beats work so well are the performances. Everyone in this film is great, from newcomer Emilia Jones as Ruby to Oscar winner Marlee Matlin. But the winner of the film is Troy Kotsur as Ruby’s father. This is the definition of a supporting role. Less screentime, but makes use of every moment on screen. Troy is given so much to do in his screentime, running the full gamut of emotions. From the hilarious scene mentioned above and when he and Marlee pick up Ruby from school to having two tear-inducing moments at the end of the film, especially the one on the bed of his truck with Ruby. It is such a beautiful moment that if It doesn’t bring a tear to your eye I can’t help you. I don’t know if he can, but I hope Troy can go the Paul Raci route and get an Oscar Nomination.
Beer Two
As fresh as this film is, it still hits many of the same storytelling beats that many coming-of-age films tell. Because of that, this film becomes very predictable. I applaud the telling of a different story that we don’t usually get; I just wish it wasn’t told in such a conventional manner.
Verdict
Though the story may be predictable, I still really enjoyed CODA and I think many filmgoers with also enjoy this film. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll have a good time while watching this film. I hope Sian will keep delivering new stories to tell.
