My Girl 2

No, MG2 isn't as good as the first movie, but how often are sequels better than the first? (I will make a case for Toy Story 2.) Anyway, the acting is strong (especially Anna Chlumsky, who is wonderful again as Vada), the plot of Vada researching her mother's life is very interesting, but the subplots are a little pedestrian and cliched. I read a review that claimed Dan Aykroyd and Jamie Lee Curtis were "sleepwalking" in their roles, but in all fairness, they didn't really have much to do in this movie. The fabulous Christine Ebersole steals several scenes, and Austin O'Brien does a good job here as well. It may not be the greatest film ever, but you could certainly do worse!

My Girl is iconic. Who remembers the sequel made a few years later? It didn't work like the original one did. I'm not saying that this is a bad film, because it isn't at all. It just lacked in any real emotional connection that the first one had. This seemed to almost force-feed and recycle what worked in the original.

It is now the spring of 1974. Vada's interests in boys is rising and her maturity is growing since we last saw her. She was a spunky tomboy in the first one, but now she's more serious and lively, but still maintains the spunk and jazz that made Vada, Vada. She isn't much different from the last time we saw her, but there is still a believable change. Dan Aykroyd and Jamie Lee Curtis are also a tad different. People change, people grow.

Just before March Break, Vada is assigned to write a report about someone she admires but has never met. She decides to do it on her mother. She sees it as a chance to know more about herself and gain her own independence. She badgers her father into flying to Los Angeles, which was where her mother grew up, to do research. She stays with her uncle (Richard Masur) who is living with Rose and Nick Zsigmond. Nick is played by Austin O'Brien who becomes Vada's childhood romance. At first, they don't get along, but then something grows. O'Brien was really good as Nick. Anybody that trashes him are wrong. Unfortunately, he's no Macaulay Culkin. Culkin is the better actor with more charm and Thomas J was better than Nick. In this, is seems that Vada and Nick are just a fling that will end just as she returns home. But her relationship with Thomas J was magical and it felt like it would last forever. Her explorations to get to know her mother are all fun and adventurous with the little romance at the backdrop. I liked the adventure aspect, but it wasn't a whole lot interesting.

The acting by all (mainly Chlumsky) are perfect. But it lost the emotional impact and self discovery that made the original so great. Sure Vada finds out more about herself, but it doesn't impact the viewer much. Plus, the magic from the first was lost. Magic is the only suitable word for this. The emotional impact is rather low too. I have mixed bags with this.

Either download it or buy the double feature. If you already have the first, no need for this.

2.5/4

I don't know what to say: i just really liked this movie. I even cried :-o Maybe I am just cheesie or too romantic, but what the heck.... In my eyes, the main storyline is not the search for the mother, but the discovery of those first loving feelings, the changing of the body, the transformation from childhood to adolescence, in short: it is a story about growing up. Something we all have gone through....its such a "feeling good" film: all people are friendly, there are no sorrows...

It gets a 7/10 (which is a lot coming from me, believe me)

The original "My Girl" from 1991 was a quality drama about a 10 year-old girl experiencing tragic death. In "My Girl 2" she's now 13 and goes to Southern California to learn about her mother she never knew. Her companion is played by Austin O'Brien. Dan Aykroyd and Jamie Lee Curtis play her father and stepmother while Richard Masur and Christine Ebersole co-star as her uncle and potential aunt. The beautiful Angeline Ball has a small role as her mother in flashbacks.

This is just a solid drama, as good or better than the original. The adventures of the two 13 year-olds as they go from person to person searching for information about Vada's mother compels the story along. The people they meet are colorful or interesting. The peripheral subplots are good too, like will the Uncle propose to Rose or allow some rich dude with a Jaguar to snatch her up?

The film runs 99 minutes and was shot in Los Angeles, California, including Topanga Canyon.

GRADE: B

It's the summer time again for Vada Sultenfuss and this time she has assignment to do. She has to write about someone she really admires, but has never met. Vada almost immediately decides to write about her mother, but realises she only knows a little bit about her. Vada then manages to persuade her father to let her go to LA to stay with her Uncle Phil and do some research on her mother. Vada's father agrees and once she gets to LA, her Uncle Phil puts his girlfriends young son, Nick in charge of looking after Vada. Nicks not happy about this as he wants to spend his summer, doing what he wants to do. When he finally agrees, he Vada go on a long and difficult, but interesting search for facts about her mother.

Anna Chlumsky, Jamie Lee Curtis and Dan Aykroyd are all back here and of course the arrival of Austin O'Brien. Everyone here gives great performances in the movie.

My Girl 2 is a really sequel, to the first My Girl, which is also great. Just like the first one, it includes, great directing, great acting, a great story-line and much more. If you enjoyed the first My Girl, then you'll definitely enjoy this movie.