As a seasoned movie critic who has seen more coming-of-age stories than I can count on one hand, I have to admit that “Penelope” left me feeling rather… well, perplexed. The series, with its stunning cinematography and intriguing characters, seemed to promise a fresh take on the genre, but ultimately fell short in delivering a cohesive narrative.
Despite the years that have gone by, many of us can still vividly remember the unpredictable, exhilarating, and painful transition into adolescence. Netflix‘s latest coming-of-age series, “Penelope,” penned by Mel Eslyn and Mark Duplass, introduces 16-year-old Penelope (played powerfully by Megan Stott). She leaves her organized, tech-driven life behind to embrace the wilderness. This might not appear like Netflix’s usual young adult content because they acquired the series from Duplass Brothers Productions, marking a new direction for their indie television ventures. “Penelope” beautifully captures the breathtaking landscapes of Washington State, showcasing the talent of Nathan M. Miller as cinematographer. However, much like its namesake character, the series seems uncertain about its message or actions, leading to a confusing puzzle of disjointed concepts in its eight episodes.
The story begins at a quiet dance gathering at a summer camp, where our focus lands on the character named Penelope who’s grooving to the rhythm of her personal music through earphones. Amidst the crowd dancing around her, she halts all of a sudden upon noticing a wolf lurking in the woods near the outskirts of the dance floor. The wolf swiftly disappears, and the young blonde continues her solitary dance. However, an unsettling feeling persists within her. The next day, Penelope treads cautiously from her bunk bed without waking her cabin-mates. Despite telling her mother via text that she’ll be back in time for SAT course preparation, Penelope harbors a secret agenda.
In just a blink, Penelope is seen by the audience strolling through the town’s general store, picking up camping supplies as she goes. After experiencing a hitch with Apple Pay, she ends up spending $400 on equipment. Then, she switches off her phone’s location and sets off confidently towards her unexpected journey.
Visitors observe as Penelope secretly enters North Cascades National Park, since she can’t afford the $80 camping charge. On her journey, she encounters some helpful, although peculiar, individuals. Sam (Austin Abrams), a wandering minstrel, extends an unusual invitation for Penelope to rest in his camper van. Subsequently, she bumps into Alana (Krisha Fairchild), a nature enthusiast with strong ecological views, who ponders the sorrow of humanity disrupting natural habitats. Lastly, there’s her interaction with Peter (“The Penguin” Rhenzy Feliz), who is trying to reconcile his Catholic beliefs with the tumultuous world outside.
Penelope gathers tiny insights from every interaction, yet she generally operates independently. During lengthy scenes with little action, viewers observe her activities such as picking berries, fishing, swimming, erecting a tent, encountering frightening animals, and much more.
It seems that young individuals frequently depart from home due to concerns about safety and scarcity of resources. However, in Penelope’s situation, it doesn’t appear those factors are at play. Consequently, her actions might come across as self-centered, irritating, and even risky based on a millennial’s point of view.
Still, the series is strongest when examining Penelope’s determination and patience with herself. Though she’s frequently overwhelmed and exhausted, the audience watches as Penelope speaks to herself gently, trying again and again to get a fire started or collecting the wood, twigs and ferns needed to build a cabin that is much better insulated than the flimsy tent she purchased. Usually, in narratives centered on teen girls, the characters berate themselves over small mistakes. Penelope’s ability to treat herself with kindness is refreshing, since it’s so rarely seen in young women on screen.
The teen’s resolve is what makes this story compelling, despite its slow pace and limited dialogue. If “Penelope” were turned into a short film, it might be more emotionally impactful. The character of Penelope finds the world revolting, viewing our constant connection through phones and social media as unnatural. However, her radical (and prolonged) choice, which seems to tear apart her family, particularly her mother, strains credibility. Unfortunately, the lack of additional context provided by Eslyn and Duplass about a privileged girl surviving in nature makes “Penelope” somewhat monotonous and repetitive.
Discovering oneself and venturing into new experiences are crucial steps towards maturity. “Penelope” aims to depict what it takes to create a life according to your own rules. However, lacking a definite strategy or the capacity to think beyond herself, Penelope becomes bound by the unpredictable flow of events, which only pushes her further away from her intended path.
“Penelope” premieres on Netflix Sept. 24.
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2024-09-24 17:16