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Sticking out is every teenager’s nightmare, and being 4 meters tall is difficult to hide. I’m A Virgo (watch trailer, runtime: 2:37) follows Cootie (Jharrel Jerome), a 19-year-old, 13-foot Black teenager being raised in secret by his aunt and uncle. He’s only seen the world through the TV screen and comic books, but his growing need for friendship (and fast food) finally forces him outside.

Cootie’s physical and social awkwardness, natural empathy, and naivety makes us as protective of him as his family. He’s obsessed with The Hero, a Batman- or Iron Man-esque b’naire, who he’s seen on TV and in comics. The Hero takes it upon himself to fly over Oakland and dole out justice, and pretty quickly, Cootie realizes that the only people he protects are the rich.

I’m A Virgo is much more than a coming-of-age story. Confronted with the reality of race relations and capitalism, Cootie’s innocence throws these topics into sharp relief — especially once he realizes that he’s seen as a threat. But at its core, I’m A Virgo is an absurdist comedy. It swings from lighthearted to dark comedy and back again quite deftly, making you engage with its themes without feeling preached to.

Our favorite thing about the show is the minimal CGI. The Marvel era has bombarded us with CGI effects, and it’s refreshing to see a showrunner, Boots Riley, rely on practical effects and forced perspective to make Cootie larger than life.

You can watch I’m A Virgo on Prime Video.

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