Dìdi takes us right back to those cringe-worthy, facepalm moments we all lived when we were 13, those ones we all wish we could erase from existence. The film follows Chris, a Taiwanese-American kid who prefers to go by Wang Wang, as he fumbles through the joys (and horrors) of early adolescence. From learning how to kiss to making DIY films, and dealing with his best friend, mom, and sister, it’s all a little too real.
It’s super easy to relate to Wang Wang, especially with the natural, heartfelt performances from Izaac Wang and Joan Chen, which really give the story its grounding. Plus, if you grew up pre-smartphone, the nostalgia hits hard. Dìdi nails that late 2000s vibe, capturing the innocence of a time when YouTube was just getting started and kids still hung out in the streets.
But while Dìdi is sweet and super relatable, it sometimes feels as awkward and hollow as Chris’s teenage years. Sure, there’s some relationship growth, but compared to other coming-of-age films like Eighth Grade, it lacks that emotional gut-punch. The mom storyline wants to go deeper, but the director doesn’t have all that much to say.
Still, Dìdi is a charming, fun reminder of those awkward pre-teen years. And unlike what I said in my Stand by Me review, this time I left feeling pretty grateful that I survived that stage, and knowing I’ll never have to go through it again!
- Where to watch
Netflix
Netflix
Play trailer
- Original title
- Dìdi (弟弟)
- Director
- Sean Wang
- Cast
- Izaac Wang, Joan Chen, Shirley Chen, Chang Li Hua, Mahaela Park, Raul Dial, Aaron Chang, Chiron Cillia Denk
- Rated
- R
- Screenwriter
- Sean Wang
- Composer
- Giosuè Greco
- Cinematography
- Sam A. Davis
- Editor
- Arielle Zakowski
- Country
- Language
- English
- Box office
- $5.245 million
- Distributor (CA)
- Universal Pictures Canada
- Streaming (CA)
- Netflix
- Buy / rent (CA)
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Amazon Video