It's not particularly realistic, and has all the depth of a lame Disney Channel sitcom, but the film is not without its charms. The direction is fast-paced and dedicated to the telling of the story, and the perfomers, especially the leads, are talented, age-appropriate (no 30 year-olds posing as teens), and attractive. There are worse ways to waste your time with your kids.
14 Reviews
A short movie to distract yourself for a while
DogeGamer201526 August 2020
A TRAGEDY
graczykn3 June 2020
For a film so heavily interested in female success, apparently, the story sure doesn't care about a diverse and more realistic representation of young and old women. The amount of hate girls give eachother and lack of support from the mother and older sister is tragic and rather painful to witness. We almost feel sorry for Jessica. She is so embedded in her circumstances she cannot find a way out of this problematic narrative. And altough she is surrounded by much more horrid personalities, Jessica remains quite bland and lacks to fulfill a satisfying character arc.
The junior high experience is heavily prominent, with characters barely existing outside of school, including the adults. But it only raises questions about the cultural message of this film. What is this hierarchical social order. Shouldn't we aim to dismantle the problematic structural issues embedded in the Western society instead of promoting them so obscenely?
What are the adults in this story? They have the emotional and mental capacity of a 15 year old, and that's being generous.
The end leaves you with a rather unpleasant aftertaste. You might as well join Jessica and faint multiple times to shake off this bitterness that comes from watching this miserable film. Please dont show it to your kids it may encourage constant fainting and need to hit ones head and possibly collapse.
The junior high experience is heavily prominent, with characters barely existing outside of school, including the adults. But it only raises questions about the cultural message of this film. What is this hierarchical social order. Shouldn't we aim to dismantle the problematic structural issues embedded in the Western society instead of promoting them so obscenely?
What are the adults in this story? They have the emotional and mental capacity of a 15 year old, and that's being generous.
The end leaves you with a rather unpleasant aftertaste. You might as well join Jessica and faint multiple times to shake off this bitterness that comes from watching this miserable film. Please dont show it to your kids it may encourage constant fainting and need to hit ones head and possibly collapse.
I hated this movie much
owey-2285321 April 2020
Nice movie, but only 7 because...
francesljar8 August 2020
Why did I watch this???
acatacow-2959313 January 2021
Do not waste your time
emmafayloren1 November 2020
Warning: Spoilers
If you want to make your life miserable watch this. The characters were all horrible and decided to stop being friends because a random guy asked Jessica to the dance, and bridgett could not handle not being the center of attention. Are we not going to mention Jessica's friend group who ran across the lunch area to grab a good table but if I saw kids running across the quad, i would think they were weird regardless of the table they sat at. They are acting like the power struggle of Middle school is life defining, which is so laughable it makes me sick. Like have fun PEAKING IN MIDDLE SCHOOL HAHAHA.
Unrealistic
robin125 January 2018
Very cute movie with a purpose
shahymkhedr24 July 2020
Watched it today and already can't remember one second
brayscout31 January 2021
A treat
u-9167525 February 2018
This movie you should show to you kid's. My thoughts behind this statement are as follows. During the film there are multiple points were I thought, "This is not what real life is like at all. Not one living soul has ever had these experiences". Now you may be asking yourself, "why are you recommending this to my child" there is one answer, to confuse the ever loving heck out of em. No one knows how school is going to be like. I didn't so they shouldn't either.
Being oneself. Not to try to satisfy others!
Reno-Rangan24 October 2017
Come on! This is an underrated film for sure. There are lots of children's films that are totally unrealistic. Well, there's no excuse for this film as well. But the thing is it was not like those ones. I'm talking about the clichés. When a film talks about a kid and his/her school life, like to be famous, they tend to do anything to accomplish that. So in this, the girl has her own 'to do' list, that's where the story kicks off.
Jessica is a below average girl when it comes to mix with the rest of the school. But she's good at studies and physically fit. Her new attempt to get along with everything like her best friend, Brie, is now a big task of her life. Following the footsteps of her older sister, becoming a cheerleader is the first obstacle. How she fares it and other developments in the tale comes in the latter parts.
The film was like 80 minutes long. The storyline was very simple and familiar. But the scenes were slightly fresher. I mean when I thought there will be mean girls in it, it avoided that. Similarly, jealousy, rivalry, the film sidelined them with limits. And ended positively. That's why it was a short and beautiful film. The actors were so good. Emma Ryne looks like a kid version of Blake Lively. I hope they would have a bright future. But I definitely want a sequel. If possible, turn it into a television series. This was based on the novel series, so there are lots tell about Jessica Darling.
8/10
Jessica is a below average girl when it comes to mix with the rest of the school. But she's good at studies and physically fit. Her new attempt to get along with everything like her best friend, Brie, is now a big task of her life. Following the footsteps of her older sister, becoming a cheerleader is the first obstacle. How she fares it and other developments in the tale comes in the latter parts.
The film was like 80 minutes long. The storyline was very simple and familiar. But the scenes were slightly fresher. I mean when I thought there will be mean girls in it, it avoided that. Similarly, jealousy, rivalry, the film sidelined them with limits. And ended positively. That's why it was a short and beautiful film. The actors were so good. Emma Ryne looks like a kid version of Blake Lively. I hope they would have a bright future. But I definitely want a sequel. If possible, turn it into a television series. This was based on the novel series, so there are lots tell about Jessica Darling.
8/10
It's Cute!
sonyabrightbooks29 June 2022
I find the vast majority of the movies produced for the preteen crowd to be unbearably bad - most I can never make it to the end of - but this one is watchable enough that I've seen it more than once. It's not a masterpiece, but in its genre, it's definitely one of the better ones.
The cast is cute and age-appropriate for their roles, and the goofier sidekicks are fun. The actors fit their roles, and even though some of the characters are over-the-top in a way you'll only find in kids' movies, even the cheerleader and popular-girl/guy types have more to them.
Based on a book series, the movie has heaps of American teen themes, but things are messier and more complicated than in most of these shows. There are the stereotypes, sure, but friendships grow and change - and sometimes end. I liked the realistic aspect that some things just aren't meant to last as you grow up. I remember well that was the age when everything changed for everyone I knew.
The ending was great. Things don't have to work out the way you want them to. Sometimes better things happen.
The cast is cute and age-appropriate for their roles, and the goofier sidekicks are fun. The actors fit their roles, and even though some of the characters are over-the-top in a way you'll only find in kids' movies, even the cheerleader and popular-girl/guy types have more to them.
Based on a book series, the movie has heaps of American teen themes, but things are messier and more complicated than in most of these shows. There are the stereotypes, sure, but friendships grow and change - and sometimes end. I liked the realistic aspect that some things just aren't meant to last as you grow up. I remember well that was the age when everything changed for everyone I knew.
The ending was great. Things don't have to work out the way you want them to. Sometimes better things happen.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
