Some stereotypical characterisations - the stepfather and the headmaster being obvious ones. One dreadful scene with the headmaster breaking down and seemingly undergoing a transformation subsequently, that was truly laughable. The bridge collapse likewise.
A major theme of the movie is the education system and the pressure and joyless rote learning of subjects - learning of facts without understanding or creativity - and promoting learning by challenge and discovery. It was heavy handed in the psychology, and pretty naive overall.
6 stars is tops for this - I enjoyed it overall, basically because I study China and Mandarin, but occasionally cringed.
Review of Looking Up
Looking Up
(2019)
Mostly Entertaining but with serious flawed patchy areas.
13 November 2020
Warning: Spoilers