MABEL

(director/writer: Nicholas Ma; screenwriter: Joy Goodwin; cinematographer: Mark Jeevearatnam; editors: Arturo Sosa, Alex Kopit; music: Tom Kingston; cast: Lexie Perkel  (Callie), Christine Ko (Angela), Quincy-Dunn Baker (David), Judy Greer (Mrs. G, substitute teacher), Lena Josephine Marano (Agnes); Runtime: 84; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: Luca Borghese, Helen Estabrook, Ben Howe; Tribeca Films; 2024)

“A sensitive, inspirational and well-crafted coming-of-age drama.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

The debut film by Nicholas Ma (the son of the great avant-garde musician Yo Yo Ma) is a sensitive, inspirational and well-crafted coming-of-age drama about a potted plant named Mabel who is befriended by a socially awkward preteen Asian fourth grader named Callie (Lexie Perkel), a loner who just moved to a new suburban town with all-white students, with her loving mother Angela (Christine Ko) and her father David (Quincy-Dunn Baker), whose job has him often on the road.

Mrs. G (Judy Greer) is a substitute science teacher at the elementary school and a botanist at the local college. She teaches botany classes in the upper-grades, with older students. When she meets her fellow plant lover Callie in the school hallway, a warm mentor relationship develops between her, the girl and the plant.

Callie befriends her younger next-door neighbor Agnes (Lena Josephine Marano), who becomes her assistant  in taking care of the plant.

It’s the kind of cornball pic that maybe tree-huggers can wrap themselves around such a cutesy pic appealing to a limited audience who can believe a loving relationship with a plant helps a little girl find some happiness. I guess I can buy into that, as maybe it’s like hugging a Teddy Bear till you grow up!

REVIEWED ON 4/23/2026  GRADE: B-
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