You Will Never Be Me

Sutanto (Dial A for Aunties; I’m Not Done with You Yet) pulls no punches in this thrilling story about two Chinese American social influencers: veteran Mer (voiced by Eunice Wong) and novice Aspen (Risa Mei). The two met at a party and became fast friends. Nine years later, their roles have changed: Mer struggles to grow her subscribers list, while Aspen is the influencer superstar. In alternating chapters, each woman shares her point of view. Wong hits just the right notes as Mer bemoans slow subscriber growth and Aspen eclipses her. Wong embodies jealousy turned to envy, anger that leads to impulsive moves, and the incident that leaves both characters emotionally drained. Mei is equally stellar in portraying Aspen as she grows from naive girl to overwhelmed wife and mother who’s caring for three daughters while her marriage falls apart. Husband Ben’s hostility flares when confronting Aspen with his frustrations and contempt for her fake act. Wong and Mei do a remarkable job of mirroring each other’s roles, maintaining the same levels of highly charged emotion while smoothly moving the story forward.