Turtles All The Way Down

Plot Summary

The movie opens with Aza in a therapist's office discussing her Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) fears about bacteria and how it is consuming her life. Despite the daily intrusive thoughts and spiraling panic, the therapist points out that Aza is not taking her medication consistently or considering alternative therapies. In high school, Aza's best friend Daisy balances her quiet with nonstop chatter and ropes her into the hare-brained scheme of finding a missing billionaire for the $100,000 reward. Davis Pickett Sr. of Pickett Engineering, goes missing after a fraud investigation opens against him. When she was young, Aza went to grief camp with Davis Pickett Jr., and Daisy plans to use this old relationship for clues.
Along the way, Aza questions how much of a normal life she can have with her OCD. As the girls navigate romances, parental control, and their futures, Aza lives with the highs and lows of OCD. The memory of Aza's father colors her experiences and we gain insight on not only her struggles but the struggles of those who love her. 

Critical Evaluation

  This story is messy and painful, just like the teen years. How Aza navigated relationships in the middle of her mental health crisis was heartbreaking. On the lighter side, the friendship of Aza and Daisy was a true love story. Daisy cared for Aza in a way that her mother was not allowed to and brought her along for the silly teen pastimes. As the girls drive around in the freedom of a second-hand car, buying food as cheaply as possible, any older audiences will be brought back to their youth. The actresses did a beautiful job of showcasing the love behind their friendship. The portrayal of OCD in Aza was an important moment in the representation of teenage mental illness for the movie and the novel that inspired it. My only criticism, as a mystery lover, is that the riddle of the missing billionaire was only a small part of the story.