BRB—I’m busy binging the latest T.V. shows and movies—and you should join me.
When I was a child growing up in Lansing, Michigan, I remember having the Mulan VCR on repeat. I loved seeing a strong female lead who looked like me. Outside of Mulan, I used to fight my siblings for the kitchen T.V. on Saturday mornings so that I could watch “That’s So Raven.” Besides her grooves and moves, I adored that she was a Black American. I felt like I could relate to her.
If you grew up in the 1990s, you might be able to relate to me when I say there weren’t many options for mainstream entertainment that featured diverse backgrounds or ethnicities. Today, I’m proud to know there is more. Now, I’m no T.V. connoisseur. Neither would Rotten Tomatoes ever hire me, but below are my most recent favorites. Let me know if you’ve watched any of the movies listed below and what you thought.
SPOILER ALERT - SPOILER ALERT.
Eternals (Available on Disney+): Eternals is an action movie that’s a part of Marvel Studios. Besides my love for the Marvel universe and its heroes, I particularly liked the diverse components of this movie. Angelina Jolie plays Thena, a fierce warrior protecting humans. What’s more is that her character arc portrays her to develop their universe’s equivalent of dementia, or memory loss later in her life. It impacts her relationships with other characters and you can tell it has an impact on her mental health. Mental health is often stigmatized and it was refreshing to see it portrayed in a major Marvel Studios movie. More so, Makkari, another bad ass female superhero, is deaf. She uses sign language to communicate with others throughout the entire movie. I love how they portray more of her abilities, than disabilities. She is a strong fighter and comrade.
Encanto (Available on Disney+): High School Musical (the original) was the best musical to ever exist. That was until I watched The Greatest Showman and fell in love in with Hugh Jackman. That was until I watched Encanto and fell in love with Mirabel, the main character. Encanto follows the story of a Colombian family. Each child is blessed with a magical gift until it’s Mirabel’s turn, and she has none. Later in the movie, we learn about Mirabel’s grandparents who were refugees escaping harm and had to leave their home. I love how Encanto features a minority-based family. The Spanish music and beautiful story line was refreshing, and I found myself crying more than once. It’s a lovely movie to watch as an adult and even better with kids.
Emily in Paris (Available on Netflix): Okay, you might laugh at this one, but who doesn’t love Lily Collins? While Lily plays a wonderful Emily, the show is more about Emily’s best friend—Mindy—played by Ashley Park. And. I. Love. Ashley. Park. It was re-energizing to see Mindy as a cool, fashionable, lovable, supportive female lead. Mindy is depicted as a talented singer who captivates Parisians with her talents. There was a time frame where if an Asian female was featured in a mainstream T.V. show or movie, they often were nerdy, or had an accent, etc. I love how Mindy is relatable as an Asian American in today’s modern world. Mon soleil, Ashley Park.
Love Hard (Available on Netflix): Love Hard is a 2021 rom-com on Netflix featuring Vampire Diaries Nina Dobrev and Asian comedian Jimmy Yang. I ADORED this love story because in the end, the nerdy Asian guy gets the girl. Furthermore, I loved how this movie showed an interracial love story. In words of my husband, “it’s so nice to see a man who looks like me” [insert belly tap]. If you enjoy a well-written rom-com about modern dating and being cat fished… This ones for both you and I.
Shang Chi (Available on Disney+): Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Michelle Yeoh—what a rock star cast! Although Simu is technically Asian Canadian, I loved seeing a good-looking Asian male lead who dominated the screen. If you’re also a fan of Simu, you’ve likely watched his “Hot Ones” interview on Youtube. The only critical lens I have for this movie is the one Simu discussed on that episode while eating wings. Simu was worried that people would watch the movie and think that Asians could only be boxed into martial arts or kung-fu style movies (queue Rush Hour, Karate Kid). I would agree, but I think the benefits outweigh the concern here. It’s great to know that if my 4-year-old nephew and I were hanging out, and wanted something on the background, that he would see someone who looks like him. That’s so meaningful.
Have you watched these shows or movies? What do you think?
Save me some popcorn!
Brenda