Without having to come out and say it, there is the sort of unspoken understanding of what many high school boys are looking for in a girl. These views and expectations of young men can often be misogynistic and unrealistic, but they exist nonetheless. As the Tall Girl in the school, Jodi Kreyman (Ava Michelle) has struggled to meet the standards that these boys have for their ideal partner. Her entire life has felt like a horrible nightmare as everyone has always viewed her as nothing more than the Tall Girl, constantly asking “what’s the weather like up there?” and other demeaning comments of that nature. However, when foreign exchange student Stig (Luke Eisner) moves to town, a series of emotions in Jodi, Stig and what seems like half of the school are uncovered, stirring the veritable pot that is high school. As tensions rise throughout Jodi’s hometown of New Orleans, bonds will be tested and her life will never be the same again.
New Orleans is known for its incredible culture, dancing, music, food, etc. and is the location of the world famous Mardi Gras, but it, in many ways, is strange as well as it is considered home to Louisiana Voodoo. While the setting of Tall Girl has very little bearing on what takes place throughout the film, the beautiful scenery and wonderfully captured moments of unique culture add a layer of beauty to a story that is very much about finding the beauty in the uncommon. The use of New Orleans to help tell the story of Jodi provides insight into how she feels about being different but also all of the potential she has once she is able to accept herself for who she is.
Like nearly every teen drama Tall Girl contains moments of cattiness, unnecessary arguments and predictability, but it carries with it a series of twists that are uncharacteristic of films that fall under this particular subgenre. As everything begins to unfold exactly as expected, director Nzingha Stewart and writer Sam Wolfson flip the script on viewers, keeping them engaged for the final act. As the final act begins to take shape, audiences are pleased with how the film ultimately plays out. The unique journey that both writer and director take the audience on helps to separate Tall Girl from other dramas.
The biggest issue that I have with Tall Girl is the fact that I found, at certain points throughout the film, that I was unable to identify with or appreciate what Joni was going through. As Joni suffers through school and social activities, her own inability to break out of her shell is what holds her back and not necessarily the other students. As the film progresses, supplementary character Jack Dunkleman (Griffin Gluck) peaks his head out from around the hypothetical corner and presents himself to audiences as one of the favorites. Dunklemen possesses a series of characteristics that nearly all viewers should strive to possess. He is a genuine person that regularly goes out of his way to help the people that he cares about. He is tenacious and refuses to accept that his aspirations are out of reach and he is so intelligent that, regardless of the twists and turns that occur throughout Tall Girl, he is always prepared. Gluck outshines everyone else in the film and inspires conversations to determine whether Dunkleman is actually the film’s protagonist. In the moments where Tall Girl is most frustrating, viewers find that those moments revolve heavily around Dunkleman feeling belittled or ostracized.
Tall Girl fails in the sense that Jodi, the expected protagonist, fails to win the hearts of audiences like Dunkleman does. However, the unexpected twists and turns keep the film feeling fresh and unique. Collectively the high school students intrigue audiences and keep them engaged throughout. Ultimately Tall Girl remains fun from beginning to end and breaks a series of barriers that teen dramas have set for themselves throughout the years.
Directed by Nzingha Stewart. Written by Sam Wolfson. Starring Ava Michelle, Griffin Gluck, Sabrina Carpenter, Paris Berelc, Luke Eisner, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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