Dear Eleanor (2016)

Dear Eleanor has the kind of old-fashioned, open-road charm that sneaks up on you: a coming-of-age story set against the jittery backdrop of 1962, when the world felt like it could change overnight. What makes it special is the way it pairs that historical tension with the intimate, funny, sometimes bruising push-and-pull of teenage friendship, anchored by lively performances from Liana Liberato and Isabelle Fuhrman. The movie’s vibe is part postcard, part restless youth—warm, scrappy, and sincere—more interested in the emotional miles traveled than in big plot twists. If you’re in the mood for a gentle, character-driven adventure with heart (and you don’t need it to be razor-sharp or cynical), it’s an easy trip to say yes to.

Dear Eleanor wants to be a nostalgic, feminist-leaning road trip about two teens chasing a real-life hero while the Cuban Missile Crisis hums in the background, and the premise is genuinely charming. The problem is it often plays like a lightweight TV movie: the “danger” feels sanitized, the period tension rarely bites, and the script leans on cute quirkiness instead of earning emotional depth. If you’re expecting a sharp coming-of-age story or a meaningful exploration of Eleanor Roosevelt’s impact, you may find it frustratingly shallow and meandering. Still, the two leads have likable energy and a few sweet friendship moments that might carry you through if you’re in the mood for something easy and low-stakes.