American Girl

Of course I had never heard about the 2023 movie "American Girl" prior to sitting down and watching it here in 2025. And I have to admit that as soon as I saw that ethereal horse galloping across the screen and it being a Maverick Entertainment movie, then my expectations dropped to a flat slim.

However, I still opted to watch the movie on account of it being a movie that I had never heard about nor watched. So I suppose director Alfred Robbins had every opportunity to impress and entertain me.

And I have to say that I was rather surprised with this movie, as it as a huge step upward in the right direction for Maverick Entertainment. The storyline in the movie was enjoyable and entertaining, so writers Sharlene Falls and Alfred Robbins certainly managed to churn out something solid. You should know, though, that the narrative in the movie is a bit slow paced, so it might not be a movie that just appeals to everyone. But I definitely think it is a movie worth giving a shot.

The acting performances in "American Girl" was good. I was not familiar with a single actor or actress on the cast list, but they performed well in the movie. I will say that leading actress Jamila Gray certainly carried the movie quite nicely.

"American Girl" was a nice surprise of a movie, and it was actually well worth sitting down and spending 100 minutes on watching. Quite a surprise from Maverick Entertainment.

The ending of the movie, well, I have to say that it felt rushed and somewhat unrealistic, given all the events that were leading up to it. The movie just did a 180 from being downtrodden and sort of bleak to upbeat, cheerful and positive.

My rating of director Alfred Robbins's 2023 movie "American Girl" lands on a six out of ten stars.

"American Girl" offers a fresh and compelling look at a 19-year-old girl's journey through the vibrant streets of Atlanta. The film effectively blends its protagonist's fiery yet stubborn determination with the city's diverse locales, creating a rich and immersive experience.

The standout performance by the lead actress brings depth to Sydney's character, while the cinematography showcases Atlanta in all its glory. The narrative, though familiar in its coming-of-age themes, is elevated by its authentic portrayal of the city and its people.

Overall, this movie is a visually captivating and emotionally engaging ride that will resonate with both locals and newcomers.

Loved the movie! A true indie! This girl was stubborn tho. She could have moved back to S. Georgia and dealt with her step dad however I understand cause I would have punched him in the face. I am not sure how I feel about her mother either. For an indie, I feel this movie is technically sound and the acting was pretty good. This movie makes me want to move back to Atlanta I have been to the Benz Stadium more times that I can count. The lead girl did a great job. I also feel that this leaves it open for a sequel or a mini series or something. I also loved that a portion of the film was filmed at my alma mater - Georgia State Univerity.

The sad thing about predominately African-American films that are put together on a low budget is that most of them glorify crime, violence, and sex; not that there is necessarily anything wrong with that if the story lines are compelling, but it isn't the only portrayal of the Black community I want to see on film. When a positive film is recommended to me, the change is refreshing.

American Girl starts off tragic but ends on a very high note. It isn't the plot you expected, and unlike others that are a cautionary tale, it isn't the ending that you would expect either. The film is in high definition but it comes across as though it was shot with digital cameras as opposed to being shot on high end equipment.

There are a lot of things that occur in the film that do not make sense, or are divorced from the reality of how things typically occur in similar situations. But I took that as the point of the film, rather than a directive to suspend reality and disbelief for me to come to terms with what was actually occurring.

My only criticism of the film is that it portrays a rural, hillbilly, or "bumpkin" type of character that not only knows nothing about life in the big city, but is ignorant to the realities of life in general, and you can't casually dismiss this for the age of the character either. If you can get past that you should be able to enjoy this film. It reminded me of some of the elements in Emma Mae (1976).

Again there are hundreds of gems like this hidden on free, or relatively cheap, streaming services that the algorithm pops up every now and then. I will be on the lookout for this director.

Wow. This is why I love independent films. First of all, the main character did a GREAT job! Her acting was superb! The story is extremely timely and spoke to me personally. For an independent film, this was very sound and I love seeing Atlanta as the backdrop. There is so much talent in Atlanta. To see locations such as Little 5 Points, the Benz Stadium, and the Mechanicsville area was great. Part of me wishes that she would have punched both her mom and dad in the face. Especially the dad! There ain't no way that I would have let my daughter leave without a fight. Anywho, you are in for a treat! Definitely recommend.