CODA (2021) User Reviews

Very Very good - My story in a movie

[waelageez · 9/10 · 13 August 2021]

Me and my brother grow up in a family with both of my parents deaf, both of us were born not deaf and we had to go through the same thing that the movie captured, people used to laugh at us and our parents and we were young and we couldn't even understand why we were treated differently.

The movie truly is a masterpiece with the acting specially the deaf acting and the way they described how deaf people live their life is very realistic.

CODA (Child of Deaf Adults) The story of Ruby, a child who grow up in a deaf family, they depended on her as she the only one who could speak, and when she found her passion about singing, she has to decide whether she continue helping her family or leave them for college.

It's enjoyable and different I highly recommend this movie.

I WASN'T GOING TO CRY, BUT THEN THEY DEPLOYED THE JONI MITCHELL.

[andrewchristianjr · 9/10 · 2 September 2021]

A captivating and heart-warming coming of age story, with a perfect, powerful and earnest performance from Emilia Jones. It does a fantastic job of expressing its themes of family and chasing your dreams, whilst balancing it with some hilarious comedic moments. A definitely must see.

Lovely, warm and humorous

[ayushparasar · 9/10 · 9 August 2022]

So far the best movie I've watched from the Academy award nominees. Won't be surprised if it gets one! (And.... it did win)

CODA means Child Of Deaf Adults. Imagine being a CODA and a singer.

Imagine not being able to feel the one thing your child is good at, what a weird feeling it can be. The concert scene from the parents' pov had me all teared up.

The movie has right amounts of all the things - laughter, romance, tension in family(you'll relate to this more if you're Asian) and is well directed in so that you never feel disconnected/ disinterested because of a basic story.

CODA is somewhat a similar coming of age story to Little Miss Sunshine and makes you value and support your family more!

Watch this with your close ones and you'll feel the emotions manifold :) P. S. I'm still laughing thinking about the small dog, medium dog, big dog scene!!!

Sobbed Like a Baby

[evanston_dad · 10/10 · 25 February 2022]

For most of CODA's running time, I was enjoying it very much while at the same time thinking that it had a very safe, made for television movie vibe that was keeping it from greatness. But then there was that audition scene. If you've seen the movie, you know what I'm talking about. And from that moment forward, I was a mess. I'm obsessed with Emilia Jones's version of "Both Sides Now" on Spotify, and I'm already dreading the day I have to send my son off to college (he's 12, by the way).

This movie is warm and earnest in the best possible way. Jones gives a marvelous performance -- it's too bad she couldn't have received more recognition for this. And Marlee Matlin and Troy Kotsur give equally wonderful performances as Jones's parents. A scene where Matlin tells Jones that she was disappointed when she wasn't born deaf, and another where Kotsur has his daughter sing to him while he feels her throat are two of the most devastating you'll see in movies this year.

Grade: A+

Not Just Another Coming of Age Story...

[Xstal · 9/10 · 13 August 2021]

A hearing girl in a deaf family, restricted by her dynamic, silenced by her surroundings with potential and passion attenuated, battles to be heard, but oh what a song she finally sings - absolutely outstanding, with some of the finest, most sincere and most genuine performances you'll find. Take it to your heart and let it dwell.

Formulaic Yet Heartwarming

[ThomasDrufke · 9/10 · 31 December 2021]

There's nothing wrong with making a predictable and formulaic film, as long as you succeed in producing the emotion and reaction out of your audience. You can see where CODA is going, but it's so effective at what it does. There's a few laugh out loud moments (which I didn't expect) and the 3rd act is just as moving as films like Almost Famous and Sing Street, both movies with similar music/dream themes. There's something about those types of stories that appeal to me more than most people.

9.3/10.

Woooooooooooow

[allilly · 10/10 · 21 August 2022]

This movie reflects our life and problems, in some scenes they makes me cry and in others makes laugh, but it was such great movie .........................................................................................

Beautiful

[Gordon-11 · 20 August 2021]

This is a beautiful and heart warming film about a teenage girl in a marginalised family. I am very happy that someone made a film about the challenges of a marginalised and forgotten group.

Quality film with a great leading performance

[philipbartleyh · 7/10 · 24 August 2021]

I was very impressed by this film. Gives a great insight into the joys and struggles faced from both sides, that of the young girl and of her deaf family, and the predicament they face about their future's. There's some great humour in the film and also some touching, emotional scenes. It's a beautiful film. I would recommend to all, young and old.

heart touching

[amarjaat-88279 · 10/10 · 13 August 2022]

CODA is a really heart touching movie. All the characters did their best work and salute to the writer - director because it's not easy to make a very simple movie. Making a film with gimmicks is very easy but making a simple movie needs a special talent.

Must watch.

CODA

[henry8-3 · 7/10 · 13 March 2022]

Emilia Jones plays Ruby, a CODA (Child of a deaf Adult) who longs to go to college to study music. Her teacher realises her great singing gift and supports her, but she cannot abandon her totally deaf family for whom she acts as full time translator, particular as their fishing business appears to be going under.

One of those truly charming, beautifully acted films that leaves you wanting more. It's largely free of sentimentality, produces some great laughs and is gloriously acted by Jones, her family, all played by deaf actors and Eugenio Derbez as her grumpy heart of gold teacher. It offers great insights into the problems of being deaf in a modern world and the impossible position Ruby is in in having to chose between 2 great loves. The music here is lovely - Jones can really sing - apart from it all seemingly being tied up rather too neatly at the end, it is one of the funnest, most moving films of the year that could easily have been spoiled with too much treacle.

The movie we need

[gshickler · 10/10 · 2 February 2021]

A window into a life most people do not know through the eyes of a wholesome girl trying to find herself. All the acting was very good but I was especially moved by the father and brother characters. Quarantine has numbed alot of feelings and this movie invites you to really feel. Thank you CODA!

Ifyou liked La Famille Bélier you will like this one as well.

[deloudelouvain · 7/10 · 31 October 2021]

The story of Coda is a bit cliché. Just by reading the ingredients you can already see where this movie is going. So no real surprises in Coda, you will exactly know the outcome way long before the ending. That said it's still an enjoyable movie to watch. A little bit emotional sometimes, which is almost normal as you feel compassion for the deaf people and certainly for the daughter that has a lot on her plate. Maybe a bit too much singing in my opinion but that's just because I'm not a big fan of singing in movies unless it's the music that I like but that's not likely to happen given my taste of music. Coda is predictable but it doesn't really matter as the acting is really good and that from the whole cast. Certainly worth a watch.

Oscar Material?

[ecatalan98 · 5/10 · 20 February 2022]

"Coda" is a nice little family movie about a talented high school girl with a remarkable voice living with her family who happen to be all deaf. Her dad and brother, who are deaf, work as fishermen and Ruby serves as their interpreter. She also longs to study music at the prestigious Breklee College of Music. Her school teacher, Mr. Bernardo (Eugenio Derbez), pushes young Ruby the excel herself at being a singer.

The movie is not bad by any means. It is entertaining if rather "flat" throughout its entire length. There are no overtly dramatic parts, no serious conflict between any of the characters, no tragedy, no overtly goofy parts and no twist ending. Aside from a few kinky scenes, this is really Disney-like fare that could be enjoyed by the entire family.

With this said, I just fail to see this movie as Oscar material. Best Movie??? Best supporting actor? If you cast a deaf person playing a deaf person, would you consider that "acting" or that person playing basically himself? There's no outstanding musical score, no jaw dropping cinematography, no definitive performances by any of the actors, no nothing. It's just a plain "good" movie, period, but nothing that would warrant any Oscars. Sure, the academy does this from time to time, but this looks like an ABC Monday night movie, with all due respect. As for Eugenio Derbez, who I think is a great guy and one of Mexico's top comedians, there's not a single American movie where he doesn't justify his heavy Mexican accent by saying he's from (drum roll): MEXICO! You don't see Salma Hayek saying she's from Mexico in her movies, why should Mr. Derbez do so?

Anyway. "CODA" is an ok family fun film that doesn't break ANY new ground and is an unlikely memorable one. 5 out of 10.

La Famille Bélier but American

[arizonaangels · 27 June 2021]

I could complain about how they felt the need to adapt a French movie from years ago... but I am just happy that this story gets to be shared with more people. Lovely story, coming off age, family relations. The resulting movie is a great feat, showing people a world they are not familiar with.

Complete Film

[dfarris-69171 · 10/10 · 28 July 2022]

I learned, I laughed, I cried, I was inspired, and it made me think. One of the few movies I've watched that that checked all my boxes. Would watch again.

A Delightful Movie For All

[sweidman-28016 · 8/10 · 29 January 2021]

As the opening for Sundance, CODA gave us a delightful story of a hearing child in a deaf family. She finds herself torn between pursuing her love of music and her family's reliance on her to be their connection to the outside world. I would like to say how much of a crowd pleaser this is. All of the reviews have come back positive saying this is the best opener since Whiplash. The performances are good all around. What got to me most is the family dynamic. It's something really heart-warming to watch that put a smile on my face the whole time. The comedy landed well throughout. The same goes for the drama. Sian Heder is a good director and we see the heart put into the movie. The story is where some of my issues came from. It follows a typical storyline that we've seen before in movies geared toward teens. It became predictable along the way and some of the scenes felt too good to be true. But I understand this isn't meant to be something to breakdown and analyze. All in all, this is meant to make us feel good and that's exactly what it did. I look forward to rewatching this again in the future.

those with disabilities deserve our respect

[lee_eisenberg · 10/10 · 3 March 2022]

So far it's been rare to see deaf characters portrayed onscreen, let alone played by deaf actors. That makes Sian Heder's Academy Award-nominated "CODA" all the more important. Showing the challenges that a hearing daughter in a deaf family faces, it hits all the right notes (pun not intended).

Another good movie about the daughter of deaf parents is the German movie "Beyond Silence".

Well Worth Your Time

[cadewhite-86061 · 8/10 · 29 January 2021]

Saw this movie at SUNDANCE 2021. Features great performances all around, but Emilia Jones is going to be a star. Would be awesome to see Troy Katsur get some recognition come awards season as well. The movie is full of heart, made me laugh and made me cry. There were some really beautiful scenes in here and some surprisingly funny ones. The only thing that holds it back is the predictability that comes with abiding by coming of age genre conventions. The pacing also drags a little bit in the middle of the movie. However, the family dynamic here just completely elevates it above normal coming of age fare.

Coda 8.1 stars, La famille Bélier 7.3!!!?? Are you guys serious!?

[chinandchin · 6/10 · 2 January 2022]

It's not bad, Emilia is loveable, very nice voice.

This remake version basically skipped all the best parts from the French version, just tried too hard to avoid copying, and I was not touched at all.

If you find this movie good enough to earn 8 stars, then get tissue papaer ready and try the original version, you will give that a 12 stars(guarantee) .

Absolutely beautiful

[kjuicymelody · 10/10 · 28 July 2022]

I enjoyed this movie. I loved her family . Her voice is beautiful. I love how she loves them back and understood her moves. Awareness in such a delight waym.

Formulaic, Funny And Much That Elevates It Above Similar Films

[david-meldrum · 7/10 · 14 July 2022]

I avoided this for a while, worried that it may be a clichéd sort of heartwarming, formulaic comedic drama that we've seen many times in the past. It is many of those things; it is also often genuinely funny and insightful. A film that breaks this many barriers and thus holds the level of significance it does should probably be a bit more than that, however. That most of the narrative beats of the film are entirely predictable is a shame, but it's also true that several good performances do elevate it to a degree. A brilliant use of sound dropping away in a music performance scene gives to hearing audience members the most profound moment of empathy in the film; there are other moments, and sequences that hit home in their own way. Emilia Jones' singing voice is something special too, it's not hard to see her career taking a distinctly musical direction from here on out. Ultimately it has more to recommend it than other similar films, and its heart is undoubtedly in a good place. But it also could, and perhaps should, have been more too.

What a lovely, well crafted film!

[info-90701 · 10/10 · 11 February 2022]

Every single fairly positive human emotion that could be called up in life, showed up in this film. It presented hope, frustration, ignorance, healthy responses to envy, love, support, family bonding and so much more. It truly was a delight to watch and feel a part of the growth of the main character. Her journey is truly one of courage as she finds her way through life.

The fact that all three of the primary deaf roles are played by actual deaf actors is wonderful and a tribute to both the filmmaker and the deaf acting community. Each of them was brilliant, and though I knew Marlee Matlin from Children of a Lesser God and more since that time, I was not familiar with Kotsure and Durant, who were also wonderful. Coupled with the incredible performance of Emilia Jones who was a joy to watch, they delivered a realistic view of the daily lives of deaf people as they go about the business of living in a world designed for hearing people. I am grateful to them for their abilities to allow us to see clearly.

Though the story is simple, the delivery keeps you engaged and able to take in new information. It was a wonderful film.

Do yourself a favor and go see CODA as soon as you can

[aivilovee · 7/10 · 11 August 2021]

First and foremost, on a general note, it's been incredible to see the amount of accurate and respectful deaf representation in cinema recently. From this, Sound of Metal, and the Quiet Place franchise (and hell, even the use of ASL in Godzilla v. Kong), actual deaf actors and the deaf community are getting the representation in cinema they deserve. This movie is no exception.

Further, the predominantly deaf audience I had the privilege of seeing this film with at an advance screening in Chicago was elated to find that captions would be provided ON SCREEN, and not with captiview equipment. Hopefully, this film helps usher this accessibility in as a standard, and not an exception.

Now, focusing on CODA specifically, it's not the greatest film ever made by any means. After a second watch, I'd sooner use the word "alright" than "outstanding". But, it was still great to see deaf representation on screen, and there were plenty of laughs and enough heartstring tugs to maintain an engaging story. It's not groundbreaking, but it's a feel-good story anyone can enjoy.

Summer Movie

[andrefranchini-30205 · 5/10 · 4 April 2022]

Disappointed! I was expecting a bit more from a Oscar winner.

This sort of movie is released by the dozen every summer. Pretty cliche story with a twist.

2021 was definitely a bad year for cinema.