Taika Waititi Understands the Silly Assignment in Nostalgic Children’s Movie With Classic Potential — Review

Like any genre, children’s movies are bound to change and evolve to better connect to their audience. And they should! Kids of today deserve their own stories that address the moment in which they’re growing up. The culture shaping the youth of today, after all, is drastically different than that of 20, 10, or even two years ago, with unique challenges rapidly brought on by new technology, a volatile political climate, and countless other variables.

Still, there’s an inherent bias for the films you personally grew up watching, as those are the pivotal, formative pieces of media that will always have an important place in your heart. It’s a special thing, then, when a new movie manages to capture that same magic, feeling heartwarmingly nostalgic in a way that goes beyond the cash grabs of endless reboots and revivals studios seem intent on pushing out. Fing! did that for me, giving me that same childlike joy that wearing out my Matilda DVD did.

What Is ‘Fing!’ About?

Fing! centers on a little girl named Myrtle (Iona Bell), who has major Veruca Salt vibes, always wanting more. Ever since she was a baby, her parents (Mia Wasikowska and Blake Harrison) have obliged her every desire, spoiling her rotten and serving to make her into a greedy terror. Her personality is very similar to that of the wealthy Viscount (Taika Waititi), a 42-year-old man who owns a wildlife park and is waited on hand and foot by his nanny.

Naturally, both Myrtle and the Viscount find themselves hunting for a Fing — an extremely rare one-eyed monster that’s shaped like a ball and covered in red fur known for its violent, difficult temperament. Myrtle demands one of her parents for her birthday, while the Viscount hopes to get himself out of financial ruin by charging people to see the creature. Myrtle’s father manages to capture the Fing first, and though Myrtle gets off to a rocky start with it, she and the monster quickly develop a strong, sweet bond, bringing out the best in each other. Of course, the Viscount refuses to give up that easily, threatening Myrtle’s newfound friendship and the very safety of the Fing.

Jeffrey Walker Creates a Delightfully Fantastical World in ‘Fing!’

Director Jeffrey Walker crafts a whimsical, wonderfully bizarre world in Fing!, with everything from the Viscount’s quirky zoo and estate to the charming local library where Myrtle’s parents work packed with detail and personality. Watching it feels like reading a fairy tale, which makes sense, considering it’s based on a 2019 children’s book by David Walliams. Walker noted that Wes Anderson was a major influence during the post-film Q&A, which is evident in the rich colorization and satisfying moments of symmetry, but I was also reminded of various adaptations of Roald Dahl’s work, as well as beloved films like E.T. and Paddington, in the sense that the story sees an out-of-place creature get adopted into a human family.

Walker is equally talented at pacing, moving the adventure along at a swift and engaging pace. There’s never a dull moment, but nothing feels rushed either, with characters getting room to breathe and evolve, particularly that of the endearing odd-couple friendship between Myrtle and her neighbor, Tyler (Sidhant Anand). While I do wish some of the mechanics were explained a little more clearly — especially the idea of the psychic bond between Myrtle and Fing and why the Fing’s behavior changes so fast — the lack of lore doesn’t detract from the enjoyment too much.

There is a simple but sophisticatedly executed story at the heart of Fing!, but the fact that Walker isn’t afraid to lean into cheekiness heightens the fun, namely in the third act. The Fing merchandise the Viscount comes up with to sell is both imaginative and grounded in wild marketing stunts of today, and I have to imagine it wasn’t a coincidence that a dome-like building at his wildlife park, on which the creature is projected, looks suspiciously and hilariously like the Vegas Sphere.

Everyone Understands the (Silly) Assignment in ‘Fing!’

The specific tone that Fing! embodies wouldn’t work without the full dedication of its cast, and luckily, every single person in the film not only commits but completely nails it. Newcomer Bell is a phenomenal lead, playing a truly insufferable brat. And yet, it’s clear that there’s something more simmering under the surface — a sadness and loneliness that drives her unsavory actions. Bell brings a surprising amount of depth and layers to her role, shining in her dramatic scenes and selling her comedic ones with ease.

Wasikowska and Harrison are phenomenal as Myrtle’s parents, radiating a cozy warmth. Though it’s funny to watch them be such pushovers with their young daughter, it’s even more delightful to see them be so lovesick and affectionate towards each other, having a chemistry that’s as sweet as it is peculiar. The fact that their passion for their jobs as librarians becomes integral to the plot — and that they get an unexpected moment to kick some ass — is icing on the cake, elevating their characters even more.

Last but certainly not least, Waititi is pitch-perfect casting for the Viscount, obviously having an absolute blast sinking his teeth into the villainous part. Whether he’s throwing childish tantrums to his nanny or mocking a bank teller, he makes a meal of the absurd antagonist. It may seem odd to say he was born to play the role of a wealthy, eccentric wildlife park owner, but there’s not one second you don’t buy his campy performance.

Fing! is a feel-good family film reminiscent of children’s movies of the ‘90s and early 2000s. While the story is relatively straightforward, Jeffrey Walker’s whimsical direction keeps it fresh and compelling from start to finish. Featuring excellent performances across the board, Fing! has what it takes to be a new children’s classic that kids of all ages will be able to appreciate for years to come.

Fing! premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.