Where Netflix's "Tall Girl" Missed the Mark
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Where Netflix's "Tall Girl" Missed the Mark

There were some things about the movie that were good, and some that were less good

138
Where Netflix's "Tall Girl" Missed the Mark
https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/news/the-dark-crystal-age-of-resistance-season-2-netflix-renewal-status-release-date-what-to-expect/

Warning: Spoilers

As a person who is no taller than five feet, I perhaps cannot empathize with the plight of a girl who is over six feet, but I would say I can relate somewhat to having a height that is out of the norm. Five feet is rather short compared to the average person, at least in America. So when I saw the trailer for the new Netflix film, "Tall Girl", I was intrigued to see what the experienced might be from the other side of the height spectrum.

The movie was essentially about a girl named Jodi (played by Ava Michelle) who struggles to navigate love and relationships as she deals with the bullying and ostracism she receives due to her being taller than most of her peers. By the end of the movie, she realizes that her love interest through the film, handsome foreign exchange student Stig (played by Luke Eisner), isn't all he's cracked up to be. She realizes that she actually loves her friend Jack (played by Griffin Gluck), who had been not-so-subtly pining for her since early childhood.

To start with, I did like that the film addressed how people's heights are treated differently based on their gender. As a short girl, I do know that a guy who is my height might unfortunately deal with more bullying for being short than I do. Likewise, a tall girl doesn't always receive the same treatment as a tall boy. Jodi's character addresses this. When told by Stig (also tall) that it's "great being tall", she retorts that it's great being a tall guy.

Ava Michelle proves to be a great actress in addition to being a wonderful dancer, and does a good job showing that the issue the movie is addressing is not based on height, but on embracing your body as it comes.

Unfortunately, though, there were some times where the movie did miss the mark.

Close to the beginning, there is a joke made by Jack about how Jodi shouldn't get with a tall guy because the subsequent baby might be too big and having a C-section scar would ruin her "beautiful torso".

That joke, to me, was definitely in bad taste, even if it wasn't made as a serious comment.

Aside from that, there is the usual cliché of someone falling in love with their childhood best friend, but the love interest (in this case, Jodi) rejects that person until the very end of the story, when they've had a falling out with their actual love interest. And while I generally don't have an issue with love triangles, I feel like this kind of plot can be problematic.

While Jack is madly in love with Jodi, a girl named Liz (Paris Berelc), is crushing on him and eventually does ask him out on a date. They become a couple for a while until Jack confesses that he's in love with Jodi, and breaks it off. Liz accepts it gracefully but comments that she wonders how long Jack will hold out hope that Jodi will love him back. He says he will do it until he dies, if that's what it takes.

In the end, luckily, it does end up working out for him, but as many people know, movies aren't always a good representation of real life.

In real life, it is generally a better idea to try and date people who actually express romantic interest in you, and do not reject you 1,000 times before they actually say yes, if they ever do. Furthermore, standing up for your friends (like how Jack did for Jodi) is a wonderful thing to do and is indeed what a friend should do for someone they care about, but it does not mean that friend will suddenly become romantically interested in you if they weren't beforehand.

Jack's unrequited love for Jodi was so strong that he never gave a relationship with someone that actually liked him a chance to grow, which isn't really a good thing for him.

Overall, Tall Girl does fall victim to some movie clichés, but has a decent representation of body acceptance and pretty good acting as well. For those who are curious, I'd still recommend checking it out.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

50770
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

32488
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

955710
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

180754
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments