Movie: Tall Girl
Where to watch it: Netflix
Spoilers: Yes
Jodi has always been tall. Like abnormally tall. Her dad has always been worried about how this about impact her overall health and life. Her classmates have always targeted her for it. By the time she reached high school, Jodi measured in at 6’1. Despite trying to blend into the background, the tall girl is always noticeable. Jodi has two friends: Jack who carries a wooden milk carton instead of a backpack and has been in love with Jodi for years, and Fareeda who feels it’s her personal responsibility to stick up for Jodi.
Despite Jack’s openly undying devotion, Jodi is clear that it would never work because she’s too tall. No one seems to understand her plight and all seems lost until an attractively tall Swedish foreign exchange student walks in, Jodi thinks that maybe she finally has a chance at a suitable boyfriend. That is until the most popular girl at school snaps him up. After giving up hope, fate puts her and the tall foreign exchange student alone in that same room. Realizing that they share common interests, Jodi believes she might actually have a chance to win him away. Jodi asks her pageant queen sister for help with a makeover.
All seems to be going well and foreign exchange student promises to break up with the popular girl to date Jodi. However, the allure of popularity ends up being too much for him. Despite his true interest in Jodi, he trashes her publicly at a party. Jodi’s friend, Jack, defends her and walks away with a black eye.
Someone films the whole thing and sends it to Jodi via text. That’s enough to inspire Jodi. She dresses up and marches into homecoming to give an inspirational speech about how she accepts herself and she can handle everything that they the throw at her. Everyone cheers. Foreign exchange student finally breaks up with the popular girl but this time Jodi turns him down.
Jodi goes to Jacks house. She thanks him for defending her honor. He jokingly asks if he now meets more than fifty percent on her list for boyfriend requirements. Jodi admits that he does but she just doesn’t understand why he carries the milk carton instead of a backpack. He explains that he’s carried it with him for years for this very exact moment. He flips it over and steps up on top of it. Now, standing on the omnipresent milk carton, he is taller than her. With that, he leans down and kisses her.
Rating: C-
Is it worth watching: No, not unless you’re twelve or unbearably bored. It’s a terribly cliched teen movie. It is shallow and self pitying. At least the underdog gets the girl.
