Film Review

‘The Legend of Ochi’: A ‘Borat’-like Fairy Tale With Magic Monkeys

A mash-up by way of a Wes Anderson movie, replete with Willem Dafoe ensconced in his wheelhouse of Looney Tunes characters.
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‘The Legend of Ochi’: A ‘Borat’-like Fairy Tale With Magic Monkeys
Yuri (Helena Zengel) and her wee Ochi friend, in "The Legend of Ochi." A24
Mark Jackson
Mark Jackson
Film Critic
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PG | 1h 36m | Fantasy, Family | 2025

“The Legend of Ochi” is a blend of “Borat,” “The Goonies,” “Gremlins,” and “E.T.” stirred into a swampy tea that sits in a Wes Anderson teacup. It’s even got one of Anderson’s favorite actors, Willem Dafoe, cheerfully ensconced in Dafoe’s wheelhouse of delightfully unhinged, Looney Tunes characters. It’s a wonderful little family film, if slightly damp and dreary.

Mark Jackson
Mark Jackson
Film Critic
Mark Jackson is the chief film critic for The Epoch Times, and a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic. He earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Williams College, followed by a classical theater conservatory training, and has 20 years' experience as a New York professional actor. He narrated The Epoch Times audiobook "How the Specter of Communism is Ruling Our World," available on iTunes, Audible, and YouTube. Mark is cited in the book "How to be a Film Critic in Five Easy Lessons" by Christopher K. Brooks. In addition to film, he enjoys Harley-Davidsons, martial arts, rock-climbing, qigong, and human rights activism.
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