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Hollywood’s Summer Blockbuster Season: Challenging Audiences with Originality
During the summer, Hollywood’s studios typically release their biggest and most highly anticipated films, including sequels to established franchises and superhero movies. However, it is also a time when movie studios find ways to highlight and promote their smaller, original concepts, making sure they are not overshadowed by bigger names. Amazon’s “I’m a Virgo” from writer and director Boots Riley is an example of this kind of smaller project, and while it may not be in the same lane as the latest superhero sequels, it is a provocative challenge to audiences to examine why they love those big-screen spectacles.
A Story About Cootie, a Black Teenager from Oakland
“I’m a Virgo” tells the genre-blending story of Cootie (Jharrel Jerome), a 13-foot-tall Black teenager from Oakland. Cootie’s love for corporate-owned IP is part of what makes his sheltered existence bearable. However, there is so much more to Cootie than his size or his strength. “I’m a Virgo” explores the many unexpected quirks Cootie’s Aunt Lafrancine (Carmen Ejogo) and Uncle Martisse (Mike Epps) have to get accustomed to as they secretly raised their unusual nephew in their modest Oakland home. Despite his sheltered existence, Cootie dreams of being able to go outside to experience the world beyond their home.
The Challenges of Raising Black Children who are Too “Big” for the World
For almost 20 years, Cootie’s parents dedicated every waking moment of their lives to keep their son safe and sequestered. As a child whose Blackness and brilliance makes him too “big” for the world, Cootie’s gigantism is a reflection of how Black children’s childhoods are robbed, and they are perceived to be older than they are and more deserving of punishment. Living in a society that is not designed to help maximize their potential but rather to stifle it, parents like Cootie’s see the boundless potential for greatness in their Black children. However, even when Black people manage to play the game successfully and reach the upper echelons of fame and fortune, the reality of racism, by way of dehumanization, is never too far away.
A Powerful Narrative that Isn’t Afraid to Get Heavy
“I’m a Virgo” is more than just a coming-of-age story. It is an exploration of Cootie’s life as he tries to understand his place in the world beyond his sheltered existence. But it isn’t just about Cootie. It’s also about Cootie’s friends, Jones (Ashley Blaine Featherson), a queer, revolutionary-minded community organizer, and Flora (Olivia Washington), an idealistic aspiring chef. Together, these characters delve into the ways in which late-stage capitalism disproportionately harms people like them specifically. “I’m a Virgo” is a narrative that doesn’t shy away from getting grim and heavy, but throughout it all, there’s a reminder that art and imagination are two of the most powerful tools at people’s disposal to guard their minds against the harshness of reality.
A Triumph of Imagination
“I’m a Virgo” is a triumph of the imagination, with a playfulness that is reflected in its visual style. Cootie’s size and the way the show sells you on the idea of him moving awkwardly yet exuberantly through the world are impressive feats. Additionally, the show has inspired concepts like the way Flora moves and how the Hero operates out of a skyscraper with levels that periodically rise and fall around him, showcasing the creators’ efforts to create visual delights that have a deeper narrative significance.
A Conclusion that Praises Creativity in Hollywood
In a summer overstuffed with big-budget live-action spectacles that look expensive but don’t necessarily sell viewers on their fantasies, “I’m a Virgo” stands out for illustrating how a little bit of practicality in the effects department can do wonders to make a production feel inspired. Despite losing some steam towards the end, “I’m a Virgo” is a triumph of creativity in a Hollywood where predictability often reigns supreme.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
Q1. What is “I’m a Virgo” about?
A1. “I’m a Virgo” is a story about a 13-foot-tall Black teenager, Cootie, who is struggling with his sheltered existence in Oakland.
Q2. How is “I’m a Virgo” different from other Hollywood movies?
A2. “I’m a Virgo” is not a big-budget live-action spectacle but rather a smaller project with original concepts that challenges audiences to examine their love for big-screen spectacles.
Q3. What does “I’m a Virgo” explore?
A3. “I’m a Virgo” explores the challenges of raising Black children who are too “big” for the world and the ways in which late-stage capitalism adversely affects people.
Q4. What makes “I’m a Virgo” stand out?
A4. “I’m a Virgo” is a triumph of creativity in Hollywood, showcasing how practical effects can do wonders to make a production feel inspired.
Q5. Is “I’m a Virgo” easy to watch?
A5. Yes, “I’m a Virgo” is a short-form series with only seven half-hour episodes that are easy to breeze through in a weekend.
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