Tall Girl (2019)

Tall Girl has a disarming sweetness that sneaks up on you: it takes a familiar teen-rom-com setup and uses it to talk, with surprising warmth, about the exhausting work of feeling “too much” in your own body. Nzingha Stewart keeps the vibe light and breezy—awkward crushes, hallway humiliations, and big feelings—while letting Ava Michelle’s Jodi land the quieter moments of sincerity that make the story feel lived-in instead of manufactured. The humor is gentle, the emotions are earnest, and when it aims for empowerment it does so with a big, open heart rather than cynicism. It won’t convert you if you can’t stand glossy high-school fairy tales, but if you’re in the mood for a charming, heartfelt confidence journey with romance and a few wince-worthy laughs, it’s an easy watch.

Tall Girl is aiming for a feel-good teen rom-com about self-acceptance and learning to stop apologizing for taking up space, and that’s a perfectly worthwhile goal. The problem is it gets there through a very familiar checklist of high-school clichés, broad stereotypes, and conflicts that feel more manufactured than earned, so the “inspiring” moments can come off a bit prepackaged. If you’re hoping for sharp writing, nuanced characters, or a fresh take on insecurity and bullying, this one may test your patience, and the wrap-up might feel too neat for what it sets up. Still, it’s light, mostly wholesome, and easy to watch, with a few sincere beats that will work best if you’re in the mood for comfort-food teen drama rather than anything new.