'Tall Girl' Movie Review

Jodi Kreyman, a 6'1 and a 1/2, 16 year old girl, attending high school. Nothing special or particular about that sentence. Take a look again at the height of this young girl. For the whole of Jodi's life, she has never been unnoticeable as she looms over everyone. She has been mercilessly teased for her great stature, the classic question 'How's the weather up there?' on repeat. Jodi has her two good friends Fareeda, a positive, live soul and Jack Dunkleman (AKA 'Dunkle'), who is madly in love with her. Jodi felt defeated until someone on her level came to save the day and finally swept her off her feet...

Key events

Jodi has always been a tall girl since she was young. Her dad has been effortlessly attempting to limit her growth rate, however, to no avail. In all her school years, Jodi has been taunted by her fellow classmates with the teasing line 'How's the weather up there' being thrown around. Despite the whole world being under her, Jodi had two loyal friends, Fareeda and Jack; one of them, madly in love with her. Jack, a strange, yet cute guy, always carries around a wooden crate as a box (This information doesn't appear important, but will make sense at the end).

One day, Swedish hottie, Stig Mohlin, walks in and meets eye level with Jodi. He was tall, good looking, and unaware of Jodi's trauma. He was perfect! and she wanted her 'perfect'. Jack, Jodi's long term friend and crushee, was enraged and confused to discover Jodi's love, that he has been earnestly fighting for for years, had been easily given to the new guy. His nightmare was extended when he discovered that Stig was staying at his house.

Jodi becomes frustrated when she remains unnoticed to the one person she actually wants to be noticed by. When avoiding mean girl Liz and her humble sidekick Schnipper, Jodi stumbles into a back music room. She also stumbles into the presence of her potential love interest Stig. They share their love of musicals and piano, encouraging Stig to invite Jodi over to his house to watch their favourite musical, much to Jack's dismay.

They kiss. Jodi and Stig connect physically and emotionally. However, Stig feels disloyal as he longed for Jodi whilst being in a relationship with mean girl, Liz. Jodi and Stig agree to remain friends. Harper, Jodi's pageant-winning sister, who is also highly sensitive and allergic to many things, gives Jodi a makeover. Now Jodi is noticed for her height, as well as her fresh look. She is no longer taunted, and even Schnipper, her second biggest bully, falls for her.

Liz, in favour of Schnipper, invites Jodi out. Fareeda, only having good intentions to help her naive friend, warns Jodi, but Jodi's confidence is alike to her height—very high. This causes an argument, which leads to them both walking away.

Later, it is revealed that Stig told many people that he didn't like Jodi, and was only talking to her to 'get her off his back', despite having just reassured her of his love for her. We also discover that long term crushee Jack defended Jodi's honour.

Jack is grounded from going to prom and Jodi is too heartbroken to attend. Jack gifted Jodi a pair of high, sparkly heels; then her confidence grew higher than ever before. Jodi walked into the prom, tall and proud, and gave a heartwarming speech about acceptance and self-love. She reconciled with Freeda and shut down Stig.

Jodi met Jack on the front porch of his house, where he remained as he was grounded. She confessed her love for a boy who cares for her, knows so much about her, and defended her honour when no one else would. Finally Jack was able to stand on the wooden crate to kiss Jodi, the purpose of this crate all along.

Observations

The camera angles greatly exaggerate Jodi's height. This is favourable as it helps the audience understand how tall Jodi is, and help us relate with the other characters in the film.

Harper, Jodi's sister is a pageant girl. Harper is also highly allergic to many things and is sensitive. How is Harper able to perform perfectly in her pageant performances. For her last performance, Harper performed a knife-throwing trick. For the trick a, presumably, cotton blindfold was placed on Harper's eyes, Surely she would have reacted to this?

Jodi appears to be infatuated with her sister, Harper. Statements such as "You're Perfect" and her dilated eye contact when watching her sister can lead to conclusions such as Jodi has a deep love for her sister, perhaps not in the sisterly way...

Does Harper go to school?

After the scene of the two sisters, Jodi and Harper, the next shot was of a side of a building with posters on it. The biggest poster with the biggest text stated 'Two Sisters Restaurant'. Symbolism of sisterly love and the expansion of their relationship

Liz, the mean girl, prank called Jodi, pretending to be Stig inviting her to prom. How does Liz have Jodi's number? Surely only two people (Jack and Fareeda) would have had her phone number and neither one of them would have given it out to just anyone, especially Liz

Why does Jodi unhesitatingly answer 'Unknown Caller' phone calls?

Fareeda enters the girls bathroom to find Jodi cooped up in one of the stalls. How is Fareeda able to open Jodi's bathroom stall easily? Why didn't Jodi lock her bathroom door? Anyone could have walked in

Jack's mother opened her house for Stig to live in. This is a job that is paid well for. This could signal that Jack is from a working class, which could further explain why he uses a wooden crate as a bag. His mother's car wasn't particularly modern or fancy. Despite this, their house was huge and expensive looking. Mix of class characteristics

Linking back to Jack's big house, why does he sleep in a bunk bed that he shares with Stig? Surely they should have different rooms? Mix of class characteristics

Coca-Cola branding. Subsidiary of Coca-Cola Smart Water also featured

Jack was grounded for throwing a party in the house. Yet he went to visit Jodi at her house. How was this allowed?

For a girl who only wears "Size 13 men's Nike's", Jodi is able to wear the gifted high heels very well. How? She should struggle as these are not her usual footwear

Did Jack really only carry around the wooden crate in order to stand on it to reach Jodi's lips?

Cast

Ava Michelle - Jodi Kreyman

Sabrina Carpenter - Harper Kreyman

Luke Eisner - Stig Mohlin

Griffin Gluck - Jack Dunkleman

Anjelika Washington - Fareeda

Paris Berelc - Liz

Rico Paris - Schnipper

Steve Zahn - Richie Kreyman

Angela Kingsey - Helaine Kreyman