Fast Color

For a superhero movie, this one lacks power. Ruth tells Lila that they may possess unusual telekinetic powers, but "we're not superheroes" -- but viewers are still meant to understand that the special abilities Ruth and all the women in her family line possess are indeed superhuman. The ability to break things apart isn't just limited to cigarettes and ceramics: They have the mental strength to move heaven and earth.

Humanity loves a good story about magical skills that extend beyond the norm, with each decade bringing its own brand -- from I Dream of Jeannie to Carrie to Superman to Harry Potter ... and back to Superman. Despite our current cinematic worship of all things superhero, however, both the DC and Marvel universes are distinctly lacking in female voices of color. Fast Color looks to solve that crisis. But most superhero stories are meant for kids -- and Fast Color is not. It may offer up a mirror to viewers who feel ignored by society (and the multiplex): Drug-addicted Ruth got pregnant while high, then left Lila behind in an effort to give her a better, safer life. But kids whose lives don't have comparable circumstances may receive a different message. Will they understand that they can change the world by relying on the traits they've inherited from their ancestors? Will they see those who are "specially" abled as equal, if not superior? The metaphor just doesn't go far enough for kids to internalize/appreciate. For teen audiences, as good as writer-driector Julia Hart's intention is, Fast Color isn't super, but rather a little draggy, a little heady, and a little boring.