Film Name: 疯狂外星人 / Home / Happy Smekday! / The True Meaning of Smekday
Home tells the story of an outsider. In fairy tales, outsiders either fall into hell or ascend to heaven.
In the film, the alien child Oo nearly plunged into an inescapable hell—a world devoid of understanding from his own kind, let alone affection—because his mind harbored thoughts that deviated from his tribe’s customs, especially those advocated by their leader. Yet, it is precisely through this unconventional thinking and unwavering persistence that he achieves a reversal of fortune, ascending to heaven and becoming the new leader of his kind.
Of course, his unconventionality lies primarily in his capacity for compassion toward others, his sincere treatment of everyone, and his yearning for a home where he can find genuine emotional reliance. In truth, this is hardly an unorthodox idea for humans—it represents orthodox, universal values. Thus, in fairy tales, those outsiders who ultimately ascend to heaven are invariably those embodying this universal love.
The Eiffel Tower, a monument commemorating the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution, symbolizes the collapse of the alien leader and the downfall of the previous regime’s cold, opportunistic values. Amidst this collapse of tradition, if the outsiders survive, they inevitably ascend to the pinnacle. Thus, while superficially a heartwarming tale of familial bonds, the film is fundamentally a political narrative—one that depicts how a regime enslaving the minds and spirits of its people inevitably falls, and what kind of leadership must inevitably replace it.
To broaden the perspective slightly, as depicted in the film, politicians have always been orators because they must disseminate their values to garner consensus and support. Oratory, as a means of propagating virtue, means that whoever speaks with greater force and conviction wins the argument. The difference lies in the methods employed by Western nations and our own. The West disseminates values, while we disseminate dogma. Western politicians charm you into accepting their ideas through eloquence, whereas ours prefer having people mechanically recite their quotations and original texts. Regardless, those rare individuals with genuine oratorical talent often achieve success in the end.
Beyond this, the film seems to offer little else worth mentioning. The design of the Booboo aliens is hardly a triumph. Compared to the Minions, they’re far more complex, with flat faces that place their eyes too far apart, diminishing their cuteness. DreamWorks has long sought to create another sensation like the Minions. Despite considerable effort in crafting the aliens’ physical traits, they still fail to capture the market’s affection. The only character in the film that might be considered somewhat likable is probably the cat.
Please specify：Anime Phone Cases » Home 2015 Animation Film Review: The outsider wanders between heaven and hell.