Open Wide

2024

Action / Documentary

1
IMDb Rating 5.8/10 10 473 473

controversy father son relationship orthodontics

Plot summary

John Mew thinks we're all ugly. And modern living is to blame. For decades he's waged a lonely war against orthodontics and that teenage rite of passage - braces. With his son now taking up the fight, Mew's fringe theories suddenly find an enthusiastic audience online.

Director

Sara Goldblatt Photo
Sara Goldblatt

Top cast

720p.WEB 1080p.WEB 1080p.WEB
993.72 MB
1280*720
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 48 min
Seeds ...
1.99 GB
1920*1080
English 5.1
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 48 min
Seeds 1
1.8 GB
1920*1080
English 5.1
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 48 min
Seeds 5

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by dcsheats 10 / 10

Fascinating information, well presented

I have been reading and watching videos on this topic for a few years now. It's exciting that a documentary like this can bring the information to a wider audience. I sure wish Dr. Mew had treated me when I needed orthodontic help! I'd be a different person now. I was one of those typical kids with an overbite who had two top teeth pulled and the top teeth pushed back to fit my receding chin.I really feel that being "ugly" has harmed many of my opportunities in life. I try not to spend time regretting it, and of course my true friends love me as I am, but I was constantly picked on as a child, looked down on as a teen, and am usually disregarded as an adult. I've never been married and I think I might have been if I were a bit prettier (not discounting the fact that many people more homely than I are happily married...so who knows?). Being ugly does a lot for your character, of course, and I wouldn't want to be extremely pretty either, but I'd like to be closer to average.The sinus problems, mouth breathing, snoring, etc. Haven't been a great experience either. Thankfully I discovered mouth taping 8 years ago and noticed immediately that I felt more refreshed in the morning. Still not great, and I recently decided I should get tested for sleep apnea (hasn't happened yet). But the cool thing is that mouth taping at night retrained me to the point where I realized maybe 4 years ago that I don't mouth breathe during the day any more. My normal relaxed position now is with my mouth closed, which brings many benefits. Before, it was simply impossible to keep my mouth closed without thinking about it constantly, and it wasn't comfortable. I'm 58, but I can even tell that my teeth have shifted. I'm not sure yet where this will end up, but I'm not going back to mouth breathing! Now I need to get serious about learning to mew. I'll try the Mews' (fairly new) app on my phone when I get a chance.
Reviewed by paul-allaer 4 / 10

So-so documentary about controversial UK orthodontists

As "Open Wide" (2024 release from the UK; 108 min.) opens, we are introduced to John and Mike Mew, a father and son. We then go back in time as we learn of John's modest beginnings, and how he ended up in the field of orthodontics, and "experimenting" on his 3 young kids, including Mike, in the early 80s... At this point we are 10 minutes into the documentary.Couple of comments: this documentary is the feature length directing debut of Sara Goldblatt. Here she does a deep dive into the controversy surrounding the orthodontists John and Mike Mew. Of course I had never heard of them, but we learn that their "mewing" technique to lift the jaw line. Strange as it may be, apparently "mewing" has gone viral. The problem with all this is that, regretfully, it doesn't make for a great movie experience, unless I suppose you are someone who is into orthodontics, I had never thought about it before watching this, but I guess I can now say with confidence that orthodontics is wasted on me."Open Wide" was released by A24, meaning not just some third rate movie studio. It started streaming on Netflix a few days ago, and Netflix had recommended it to me based on my viewing habits (lots of documentaries). Usually Netflix is quite on target with its recommendations, but alas not this time. Of course don't take my word for it, so if you have any interest in orthodontics (or you think you do), I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.
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