My Girl (1991)

Plot: Set in 1972, Vada (Anna Chlumsky) is an 11-year-old tomboy and hypochondriac. Her mother died during childbirth, her father Harry (Dan Aykroyd) is an awkward widower who doesn't understand his daughter and ignores her. He's a funeral director and their home is used as a funeral parlor, leading to Vada's obsession with death. She believes she killed her mother because her mother died giving birth to her. Vada is frequently teased because her best friend Thomas J. (Macaulay Culkin) is unpopular and a boy. Her father hires Shelley (Jamie Lee Curtis) to be a makeup artist for the funeral parlor. Throughout the summer, Vada is introduced to the world of adolescence. But things soon start falling apart. Harry and Shelley start dating and become engaged. Mr. Bixler (Griffin Dunne), a teacher that Vada has a big crush on, becomes engaged to someone else. Thomas J. dies from an allergic reaction to a bee sting. Vada's grief and pain eventually mends her relationship with her father and things start looking up again despite the tragedy.

Review: I loved this movie. Firstly, what I like about the plot is that it's direct. This is a coming-of-age film that deals with the issues of adolescence like your first kiss, your first period, death, troubled relationships between parent and child. I like that the film is direct and that they don't sugarcoat it. They deal with it directly and I think that makes it more realistic, which I appreciate.

The acting is great. Dan Aykroyd is very good as Harry, a father who simply doesn't know what to do. He doesn't know what to do with his daughter and his life. Jamie Lee Curtis is also very good as Shelley, who is the voice of reason in the film, especially towards the end (or at least I think so). I also thought Macaulay Culkin to be very convincing as Thomas J. But the real star of the movie is Anna Chlumsky. She's great as the lead. She was only eleven when this film was released and she carries this film on her shoulders and she does a great job. She has good comic timing and is able to play the drama very convincingly, especially when Thomas J. dies. Her grief and outburst at the funeral will make you tear up and pull at your heart.

I honestly believe this is one of the better coming-of-age films I've seen. Coming-of-age films try to sugarcoat certain subjects like those explored in My Girl and this one doesn't. A great plot and great acting make this a film to watch and enjoy.

Rating: 4/5