TALL GIRL
A warm teen movie about confidence, family, and belonging.
Should You Watch It?
TALL GIRL understands how deeply teenage insecurity can shape a young person's life. Jodi feels awkward because she is much taller than her classmates, and the movie follows her struggle to see herself with more confidence. Along the way, it offers many laughs and some heartfelt moments.
The strongest material is the family's support. Jodi's parents are active in their children's lives, and her relationship with her sister is loving and meaningful. The movie also takes place in New Orleans, which gives this television movie a fun backdrop.
The tradeoff is modest but real: a teenage party includes implied underage alcohol use, and there is some cursing. For older children and adults, this is a worthwhile, accessible choice; for younger children, parents should decide carefully. If your family is at the middle-school stage or beyond, TALL GIRL is worth the trip.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESJodi is 16 years old and more than six feet tall. Because she has always stood out from her classmates, she feels exceptionally self-conscious and is teased constantly about her height.
Then Stig, a tall Swedish foreign exchange student, arrives at her school. Jodi is immediately interested, but the school's most popular girl and Jodi's longtime nemesis, Kimmy, also notices him. Meanwhile, Jodi's best friend, Jack, has liked her for years.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means this is an entertaining, enjoyable television movie with clear strengths and a few limitations. It offers many laughs and some heartfelt moments, while the New Orleans setting provides a fun backdrop.
The movie is a little slow at times, but its emotional moments and positive family relationships give it warmth. It is not presented as a flawless film, yet it succeeds as an accessible teen story about insecurity, relationships, and self-confidence.
The Worldview
TALL GIRL has a strong moral worldview centered on family members supporting one another. Its parents are extremely supportive and active in their children's lives, and Jodi has a good relationship with her sister. Harper is willing to risk success to support Jodi, although their mother is a little tough on Harper, who is a pageant queen.
The film's central concern is Jodi's insecurity about her height and her desire to be seen for who she is. It encourages confidence and shows the value of loving support from family and friends. That emphasis aligns with Scripture's call to encourage one another: “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Strong moral worldview has a supportive family and loving parents who instill confidence in their teenage daughter, plus teenagers go to an escape room adventure in New Orleans that has some voodoo dolls
Foul Language
Three obscenities, one strong profanity and three light profanities
Violence
No actual; violence but a female character mentions hitting a man in the “nards,” a euphemism for the groin area
Sex
No sexual immorality, but some teenage kissing
Nudity
No nudity
Alcohol Use
Implied underage alcohol use as teenagers are holding drinks at a teenage party
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
No smoking or drugs;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Some light bullying.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Jodi's family supports her when she feels insecure. How can your family build one another up in practical ways?
1 Thessalonians 5:11 · Ephesians 4:29Jodi is teased because she looks different from her classmates. What does Scripture say about how we should treat people who stand out?
James 2:1–4 · Romans 12:10Harper is willing to risk success to support her sister. When might love require us to put someone else's good ahead of our own plans?
Philippians 2:3–4 · 1 Corinthians 13:4–7Jodi wants others to see her differently, but what does God value when He looks at a person?
1 Samuel 16:7 · Psalm 139:13–14The Final Word
TALL GIRL is an enjoyable teen movie with many laughs, heartfelt moments, and a strong emphasis on family support. Implied underage alcohol use and some cursing call for parental discernment with younger viewers. For middle schoolers and up, WORTH THE TRIP — MIDDLE SCHOOL AND UP.
