“Tall Girl” Rocks! A Netflix Movie Review
BREEANA BEASLEYMinor Spoilers
Most of us know what it is like to be the odd one out. You know, those times when people make it seem like your normal, but a feeling in your gut says that you’re not? Well, what many people seem to forget is, that it is okay to be different. The Netflix Movie, “Tall Girl” successfully conveyed what it feels like to different, both the good and bad. It also presented a lasting message of self-acceptance that everyone could use a little more of.
The main character, Jodi, is 16 years old and 6 ft. 1 and a half. At the beginning of the movie, Jodi feels like she has nowhere to go to be accepted, to be “Just a girl” instead of “Godzilla”. A lot of her classmates made fun of her growing up, by calling her names like “Godzilla” or “Sasquatch” and telling jokes about her height. But, not all her classmates teased her. Her two oldest and best friends, Fareeda and Jack Dunkleman have always had her back. Even when she doesn’t realize it, they are constantly there to support her and only want what’s best.
Jodi also has a very enthusiastic and supportive older yet shorter sister, Harper, who is slowly becoming the “queen of pageantry”. When Jodi starts crushing on the new foreign student, Stig Mohlin, she turns to Harper for relationship advice. Harper is excited about this because it gives her the opportunity to speak with her sister and truly support her. Harper gives Jodi advice and gives her a make-over with the help of their mom. The female bonding really helped Jodi become more confident in herself, and she was also able to open up to her older, shorter, and loving sister.
Even though Jodi starts crushing on the new student from Sweden because he’s handsome, smart, and tall, Jack insists that Stig is not the guy for Jodi. Jack is in love with Jodi, despite the fact she kept rejecting him. Jack did not complete even half of Jodi’s boyfriend checklist, but Stig, on the other hand, he was over the charts! At least, that’s what most of the students seemed to believe. Jodi had some competition with other girls who wanted Stig Mohlin’s attention. But the most popular girl, Kimmy, won the match and became Stig’s girlfriend. Even so, Stig was still drawn to Jodi and they quickly became friends. But, one thing led to another, and Jodi slowly began to push her two best friends away. She let them both down just so she could hang out with the new tall guy from Sweden. Because when he saw her, he saw “just a girl”. But what Jodi had failed to realize, was that they were many people in her life who saw her that way. Not as “Skyscraper” or “Big Foot”, but as a girl who is smart, beautiful, kind and talented.
In the end, she realized how blessed she is to have such great friends and a family who cares about and supports her. She didn’t need to compete with anyone. She just needed to look herself in the mirror and say “I Love ME. All 73 inches!” Jodi truly stood tall once she was able to accept herself and see the love and happiness that surrounds her every day. She is more than just a tall girl. She’s a tall girl who rocks!
Well Done Tall Girl cast and crew; everyone who made this story what it is, because it is truly beautiful. Netflix has done it AGAIN!
