Movie Review: Hollywood Stargirl
IN A NUTSHELL:
Disney's "Hollywood Stargirl" is a sequel to the 2020 Disney+ film about free spirit Stargirl Caraway (Grace VanderWaal), a silver-voiced teenager whose simple acts of kindness work magic in the lives of others. The upcoming film follows Stargirl's journey out of Mica, Arizona, and into a bigger world of music, dreams, and possibilities. When her mother Ana (Judy Greer) is hired as the costume designer for a movie, they relocate to L. A., where Stargirl quickly becomes involved with an eclectic assortment of characters. They include aspiring filmmaking brothers Evan (Elijah Richardson) and Terrell (Tyrel Jackson Williams); Mr. Mitchell (Judd Hirsch), one of Stargirl's neighbors; and Roxanne Martel (Uma Thurman), a musician Stargirl admires and encounters on her journey.
The film is directed by Julia Hart.
THINGS I LIKED:
Grace VanderWaal offers a quirky, innocently sweet performance. In case you didn't know, she won America's Got Talent a few years ago! She charmed the pants off of the judges and...America. She's a bit more mature in this one but still has that irresistible charisma.
Other cast members include Judy Greer, Judd Hirsch, Tyrel Jackson Williams, Elijah Richardson, Sarayu Blue, and Uma Thurman, who sings in the movie!
Did you know you can watch movies outdoors at the Hollywood Forever cemetery? Is that still a thing there? I've never been there but I love the magic of watching films outdoors.
If you haven't seen the first Stargirl movie, you might wonder if you'll be able to enjoy this one. The good news is that this is a stand-alone movie that can be appreciated. Some viewers are saying this one is better than the original. Others say the reverse. What do YOU think? Have you seen either one of these movies? The 2020 original film by Disney+ was based on a book of the same name by Jerry Spinelli.
A big element of the movie is watching 3 teens trying to make a movie. I love movies within movies.
The film is family-friendly and sweet.
THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE:
The audience is somewhat limited: teenage girls, their moms, and their grandmas
The line Grace VanderWaal says MANY times in the movie is "What?"
It's pretty predictable.
It doesn't seem that realistic, but hey, dreams DO come true all the time!
TIPS FOR PARENTS:
No profanity
Two teens kiss and hug.
A single mom raises a girl.
Stargirl has no sense of "stranger danger."
THEMES:
Dreams
Fear
Friendship and loneliness
Home
Making movies
The Creative process
Kindness
Family
YouTube channel.
