Now and Then (1995)

Now and Then is special because it treats girlhood not as a phase to giggle at, but as a whole universe—messy, hilarious, scary, and quietly life-shaping. Lesli Linka Glatter captures that electric age of twelve with a warm glow and a sharp eye, letting the comedy bubble up naturally even as heavier truths about family, bodies, and loss drift in at the edges. The young ensemble (especially Christina Ricci and Thora Birch) makes the friendships feel lived-in, full of secrets and rituals and the kind of loyalty that can’t be faked, while the 1995 framing adds a bittersweet adult perspective without turning the movie preachy. If you’re allergic to nostalgia or prefer your coming-of-age stories with cynicism, it may feel earnest—but if you want something funny, tender, and emotionally honest about the moment childhood starts slipping away, this one lingers like a favorite summer you can still name.

Now and Then is aiming for a warm, bittersweet coming-of-age memory lane ride, celebrating girlhood friendship and that awkward lurch from childhood into puberty. When it works, the young cast has real charm, and the small-town summer details can feel cozy in a way that hits the nostalgia button hard. The problem is the movie often feels assembled rather than lived-in: the adult framing device and “mystery” thread can come off forced, and the emotions sometimes tip into prefab sentiment instead of something psychologically sharp. If you want a more grounded, surprising coming-of-age story, you may find this corny and overly familiar—but if you’re in the mood for a soft-focus, comfort-watch throwback with a few genuinely sweet moments, it’ll do the job.