Another Terrible ‘Turning Red’ Take Goes Viral

Turning Red, Pixar’s energetic coming-of-age comedy, has been beset by bad faith criticism ever since it was released; one infamous CinemaBlend review even provoked a backlash from the film’s fans and cast, and has since been removed from the website.

CinemaBlend’s review stated that Turning Red, set in the Asian community of Toronto, was too narrow in scope to appeal to wide audiences, an incredibly reductive argument (it’s not like Martin Scorsese’s films are considered inaccessible to non-Italian audiences).

Several audience reviews have also found fault with the film for daring to mention periods and puberty, which metaphorically manifests via the protagonist’s transformation into a giant red panda. Prudish parents, however, have expressed discomfort with the film acknowledging the bodily functions of young women.

But YouTube movie reviewer “Mr. Enter” has transcended far beyond prudish and reductive takes, and has criticized Turning Red for, umm … ignoring the impact of 9/11.

That’s right – the Pixar film, set in Canada, that depicts the emotional journey of a young girl learning to stand up against her overbearing mother, failed to mention the fiery destruction of the Twin Towers, a stunning omission that undermines the integrity of the film. At least, according to Mr. Enter.

In his video review, Mr Enter stated:

“This film takes place less than a year after the September 11 terrorist attacks. I bring this up because it radically altered the culture of the time in ways that make this movie feel exceptionally ignorant of the time. Even though literally the only reason I can comprehend this movie is set explicitly in 2002 is because the director grew up in that exact year.”

Needless to say, the eye-wateringly terrible take went viral, as internet users saw the funny side and took the opportunity to crack jokes and generate memes.

Footage and screenshots of the film were even altered to show the film’s characters recoiling in horror, reacting to the attack on the Twin Towers. Others lamented the inability of YouTube critics to engage in good faith criticism, as the click economy rewards outrage, not media literacy.

Eventually, YouTuber Mr. Enter responded to his many, many critics, seemingly doubling down and defending his review by insisting that he’s made far worse arguments in the past.

The unintentionally amusing response gathered almost as much attention as his original “criticism” of the movie.

Luckily for Mr. Enter, the widespread backlash and memeification of his Turning Red review likely boosted the viewership of his YouTube channel – at least, temporarily.