Mixtape (2021)

Mixtape feels special because it turns a simple, broken cassette into a tender time machine—one that lets a 12-year-old girl chase not just songs, but the shape of the parents she never got to know. Set in that end-of-1999 pre-Y2K glow, it’s warm and earnest without being corny, powered by a soundtrack that doesn’t just decorate scenes but deepens them, and by Gemma Brooke Allen’s performance, which captures both middle-school awkwardness and real, unforced heart. The movie’s gentle humor and scrappy new friendships give it lift, even as it makes room for grief and the complicated love between a kid and the grandmother raising her. If you’re allergic to sentimental coming-of-age stories or find bullying scenes hard to watch, it may not be your pick—but if you want something kind, cathartic, and quietly uplifting, this one’s a keeper.

Mixtape is aiming for a warm, Y2K-era coming-of-age story where music becomes a bridge to grief, family secrets, and first real friendships, and it mostly plays like a gentle hug. The problem is it’s a very familiar hug: the plot hits expected beats, the emotional turns are easy to see coming, and several side characters feel more like “types” than fully lived-in people. If you’re hoping for sharp comedy, surprising writing, or a deeper, messier look at loss, this may feel a bit too tidy and formulaic. But if you want a sweet, safe family watch with a likable kid lead, a nostalgic music hook, and a comforting payoff, it’ll do the job without asking much of you.