For the type of movie it was, I thought that this was a solid effort. Ava Michelle was really impressive in her debut as a leading lady. She encompassed all the traits her character experienced throughout the movie quite seamlessly. I really hope to see more of her in the coming years.

There's obviously a good deal of pushback in the commentary section for this film, but I don't necessarily feel that the commentators are giving this film, or its subject matter, its proper due. I feel that everyone has their own struggles to deal w/, and sometimes, these struggles are exacerbated by external forces, such as bullying, that make them even more difficult to deal w/ or, in some cases, even intolerable. Standing out anywhere, for any reason, can be difficult for lots of people, b/c they feel separated from others. Whether we're talking about a physical disability, an intellectual disability, an age difference, an ethnic difference, a difference in sexual orientation, a height difference, or the like, in principle, it's really the same. It's something, as viewed by the majority, that sets us apart, as the minority.

I won't minimize one person's struggles, b/c I've never walked a mile in their shoes. I don't know their psychological makeup and how they're equipped to handle adverse situations. It's not fair of me to assume that if the same thing were to happen to me, I would handle the situation differently. Of course, it's easy for me to sit back, w/ the advantages of not having had to deal w/ the frustrations, and critically assess each scenario, but that ignores the human element of having had to live through the experience and how individual interactions will affect different people in various ways. The point is, to judge how others have handled an emotionally charged experience would be really arrogant and ignorant of me.

I just noticed another review on this site for Tall Girl, and I think it is the only 1-star review I have ever seen on TMDB (there are certainly a lot of them at tht other movie data and review site).

I have seen valid critiques about how much os made of a person being bullied because they are tall, like that is impossible. It is perhaps overdone at least. Imagine that if Jodi played basketball instead of the piano how she would be — pardon the pun — looked up to. People would be giving her low fives after every team wind instead of asking facetiously, “How’s the weather up there?” So perhaps it is unlikely that dues to her having the wrong hobby she would be treated so poorly.

On the other hand, I can also see her having some reason to feel put upon. If she managed to get to high school and basically have just two close friends, one of which always hits on her and even lies to try to get her to date him, she may not be in a great place emotionally. So maybe dial back her unhappiness and bullied state a bit.

Also, I didn’t buy the idea that Stig would be thought of as the shortest and least attractive guy in school back in Sweden. But the plot relies upon that fact to explain his total change in attitude towards Jodi. They have Jodi be a nice person despite her unhappiness and unpopularity, but Stig becomes a jerk just because he is suddenly popular? Yeah, kind of lame.

So yeah, the movie has problems and takes shortcuts. It doesn’t make it a 1-start movie to me, but it will prevent me from watching the sequel that came out later on. (Wait, don’t rom-coms have happy endings? They shouldn’t have sequels, should they?)

Tall Girl ironically belittles its message with a towering case of marginalised insolence. “You think your life is hard?” narrates the eponymous skyscraper-like girl in a condescending tone as if one was participating in a selfless therapeutic course in torture. Life really must suck for her. No, seriously. I felt her solemn sadness. Being an attractive young privileged white girl with a height totalling, and this really takes the biscuit, six foot one really must take its toll. Six. Foot. Frickin’. One. Constantly getting remarks including “how’s the weather up there?” and being titled “beanstalk” shatters the confidence and then some. I’m sure.

Unable to obtain high school love and succeed in life due to her colossal height. Could you imagine being six foot one? Might as well just lobotomise yourself, y’know? Just so abnormal and rare these days. Tall females apparently don’t succeed in life. Supermodels? Nope. Olympians? Who? Thank God this wasn’t called “Black Gay Jew”, as if it was treated with the same ill-mannered direction as Tall Girl, it may have been cited as a personal attack. Look, it’s a somewhat innocent approach to acquiring self-confidence amidst a wave of pessimism. But when the script hones in on stupidity like cosmetic products inspiring confidence and automatically uplifting exterior beauty, to the point where you become a different person, it’s just no! That’s not the message we should be sending the next generation!

More importantly though, let’s address the pressing matter here. No one, absolutely no one, gets bullied because of their height. No one! So automatically, there’s no relation to the central premise. Never mind the mundane acting, ostentatious directing style and unhumorous dialogue. Those are just rotten ingredients in a disastrous meal. Netflix has, yet again, released another diabolically insulting high school “comedy” revolving around popularity and bullying. With a non-sensical reasoning for abuse that cements this as the worst of the year. By far. Six foot one!? Size 13 Men’s Nikes!? She’s not exactly “Godzilla” with clown shoes now, come on!