Entergalatic: Movie Review

Black love, Hip-Hop, and Soul

Entergalatic is a melting pot of abstract art, Hip-Hop, love, and existentialism in its infinite permutations; creating a delectable dish of intrigue and storytelling. The film’s main character Jabari is poignantly voiced by musical artist Kid Cudi, who beautifully complements his love interest Meadow voiced by Jessica Williams. A brilliant aspect of the storytelling is the clandestine messaging seeded throughout the background or hiding in plain sights, such as Jabari’s hoodie reading “Closure”. This subtle yet felicitous statement foreshadows an essential aspect of Jabari’s experiences. The music in this film has a heartbeat that is pulsating and rhythmic in a way that enlivens the story’s pacing as a journey that encapsulates the souls of the characters involved. Playing an instrumental role in massaging the ideas of the film into the heart of the audience, creating a cathartic viewing experience. It’s a “silent partner” interwoven into the backdrop communicating what the words themselves cannot.

Directed by Fletcher Moules and created by Kid Cudi and Kenya Burris, Entergalactic is a love letter to art and this letter is a soliloquy. A soliloquy that vociferously emotes its love for graffiti, music, comics, photography, etc.

Jabari’s life is in a transition phase, as he’s leaving his old job, for a new loft and position at Cosmic Comics, a publisher that wants to turn his character Mr. Rager into a comic. Jabari is a graffiti artist whose life is ascending from the past only to be impeded by an encounter with his ex-girlfriend who seeks to rekindle a love that has since been extinguished. Jabari finds himself at the intersection of future and past, and the past is a seductive mistress named Carmen(Laura Harrier) who derails the “closure” Jabari once had. Jabari is particularly challenged by this imposition once Meadow enters his life in a way that makes his heart erupt like a volcano. As these intersections of events occur, Jabari seeks the guidance of his friend Ky(Ty-Dolla $ign) to avoid the potential traffic jam of errant decisions. Ky represents that homie whose ideas are never quite fully fleshed out and his advice is usually the opposite of what one should do, however, his intentions are good. Jimmy(Timothée Chalamet) plays the opposite of Ky, being the more sensible friend who’s more cautious in his advice. Ky senses Carmen’s reappearance as an immediate red flag and warns against it, however to no avail Jabari can’t resist the alluring fragrance of his past.

Jabari and Carmen go out on a night that is a series of magnetic twists and turns, as they roll down memory lane, revisiting a chemistry that turns into a kiss. Jabari soon realizes the slippery slope this creates as an avalanche of activities followed later that night. A decision he quickly questions once he awakens to what feels like an episode of the twilight zone, trapped in the past he didn’t want to embrace again. In an awkward exchange, Jabari offers to remain strictly friends after sleeping with her, an offer Carmen accepts begrudgingly. The foul scent from this exchange lingers throughout the film’s plotline, as Jabari grapples with work/life balance. An element that helps illuminate Jabari’s challenges is the illustration of his dreams and ideas; often played out through words in the background or inanimate objects coming to life to express his emotional state. This gives the scenery of New York its own characterization and voice, silently but powerfully communicating ideas that underscore the themes of the film. The 3rd wall being broken in subtle ways brings the audience into the details of the story in a unique way, that makes the entire canvas of the film an element of storytelling.

Jabari leaves Carmen’s place with an awkwardly bitter exit, realizing the past isn’t as appealing as he thought it was. The environment aids Jabari’s story through rich color arrangments from scene to scene, giving his environment a role in how his life is trending. Everything is used to tell his story, even his usage of weed which is an evident aspect of both the film and his character. His use of weed is often his creative expression and coping mechanism, often leading to portals illustrated onscreen as if he just entered outer space i.e. Entergalatic. This manifests his experiences in a vivid and ethereal way, bringing the audience into his reality. Beautifully weaved into the story are Jabari’s incidental run-ins with Meadow, ironically crossing paths but never directly communicating with each other—a clever way to build the tension between their eventual introduction without forcing it to occur. There’s a parallel storytelling style that shows the spilt reality of both Jabari and Meadow, Meadow is shown as a down-to-earth character who appreciates the art of photography.

Jabari in his journey is adjusting to his new position at Cosmic Comics, and on his first day he is confronted by a coworker by the name of Len(who’s Puerto Rican) who attempts to “show him the ropes”. Len effectively operates as a model minority character who tries to water down Jabari’s “raw style” with the advice of keeping his art “Bright, Lite, and White”. A remark with subtext that is as discreet as a ketchup stain on a white shirt, affectionately asking him to turn down his Blackness while acting as if he is “down for the cause”. This scene is a small yet impactful exchange highlighting how Black art is often urged to assimilate. In a creative detour, Jabari finds himself being attacked by his character Mr. Rager in his daydream, after his exchange with Len, symbolizing his subconscious rejection of the idea of whitewashing his character.

As the story continues Jabari is abruptly awakened from his sleep by neighboring music in his apartment complex, the melodic sounds of Dru Hill’s “In My Bed” appropriately prompt him to leave his bed to locate the culprit. Jabari finds himself lost in a sea of people flooding the hallways from an open door next to his loft, unwavering in his pursuit he’s at the party looking for whose party it is. This leads to a run-in with Reed, a friend of Meadow whose habit of being a prick creates a dispute with Jabari which creates an ironic moment of bliss—Meadow interjects suggesting she only wants “positive vibes” at her party.

Jabari is whimsically enraptured by the breathtaking essence of Meadow, causing him to be speechless at the sight of her gut-punching beauty. This is an essential moment for what is to become of their ongoing relationship, as Jabari tells her he was trying to get some rest and was awakened by the party, and Meadow proceeds to apologize. Although brief, this exchange was immediately magnetic with many indirect interactions such as shared looks and smiles, this is typified when Meadow shows up at Jabari’s door the next day offering to take him to lunch as an apology for the loud music.

This date embodied the makings of a good love story, as they shared a ton of laughs and moments of romance in the rain. Creating a seed of chemistry planted in the soil of love. A series of innocent exchanges showing the beauty of two mutually interested people, but mutually reluctant as well to acknowledge their interest in each other. There’s a latent fear to speak the unspoken, the shared flame they hold for each other that started with a spark. This creates parallel sequences where the two of them seek counsel from their respective friends, as both are “frontin” by seeking to silence their insatiable desire. Both receive confirmation from their friends to embrace the vibe they share, inevitably leading to the two of them seeking each other out. In hot pursuit of each other Jabari is opening his door to leave as Meadow knocks on his door to find him, this shared heat causes their infatuation to rise like cake in the oven and they both wanted a slice.

A beautiful display of lovemaking transpires birthing a burgeoning love, one which is painted through a compilation of dates, laughter, and intimacy. Their love is growing like a plant that is breaking through the soil, and the mere beauty of its growth is inspiring. A love displayed vividly unlike never before in animation of Black characters, untethered from trauma-based narration which often creates a division in Black love stories.

Like all things in life, on the other side of opportunity is an obstacle, and during the peak of their love, an obstacle presents itself to challenge their love. While in bed Meadow is awakened by a phone vibrating on the nightstand, and it’s Jabari’s phone—he received a picture from his ex Carmen wearing his “Closure” hoodie in a sexually provocative way. An ironic reminder highlighting the need for closure in a way that’s mutually defined and understood. Meadow is emotionally unsettled by this discovery, causing a leak of doubt that creates a flood of confusion thereafter. Jabari senses Meadow’s not-so-subtle disconnect from him in the following days, he fears she may have discovered the text on his phone. Unbeknownst to Meadow this picture is unsolicited and like all things content without context creates confusion. This picture created a divide between them, although Jabari attempted to explain the text to no avail.

Jabari realizes he left his hoodie over Carmen’s after trying to help her get rid of a mouse, however, never communicated his ongoing dating relationship with Meadow an oversight that later causes conflict. Jabari goes to Carmen to tell her he’s seeing someone and her action created a problem, leading to the final “Closure” with Carmen. Meadow and Jabari are separate but collectively mourning their disconnect, as both want to connect but neither have the words to say how they feel. A scene of Meadow walking in the rain alone highlights the emptiness she feels, as she contends with her urge to reach out to Jabari. The film’s music brilliantly captures the essence of this void felt by both souls, creating an intensifying anticipation for their reunion.

In their peak moments of career success, they yearn for each other the most, pushed by family and friends to take the risk of building love despite the obstacles. Adhering to his sister’s advice Jabari shows up for Meadow’s art exhibit, although she didn’t ask him to come silently she still wishes for his presence. She sees him at her exhibit during her speech, and is pleasantly surprised and just as he was there she turned and he was gone. She searches after him creating a cat-and-mouse chase, she finds him outside creating an art piece symbolic of their first date together. Jabari disappears again, and Meadow catches a cab to the diner their first date was at—she anticipates his presence once there and doesn’t see him. Until he suddenly pops out and surprises her, they talk about their desire to give their love a try. Ultimately sharing a kiss that illustrates their supernatural galactic bond.

Entergalactic is a dynamic love story that unfolds the multifaceted layers of the human experience in the vein of Black culture, music, and art. Creating a body of work that reinvigorates Black animation storytelling, it’s a masterpiece with elegant brush strokes of storylines and ideas that illuminates the film’s beauty.

Critiques

Drug abuse is thematically woven into the story, which normalizes recreational usage without examining both the effects and motivation for use. More conscious dialogue acknowledging this element would’ve brought forth the impact of excessive drug use, particularly as it’s related to mental health issues. Jabari’s use felt anxiety and stress-related at times, however, never directly addressed. The aforementioned critiques aside, Entergalatic is an instant classic setting a new benchmark for animation films.