"My Girl" (1991)

Rating: PG-13

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Directed By: Howard Zieff

Written By: Barbara Benedek, Laurice Elehwany

Runtime: 102 minutes

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Summary: 
Tomboy Vada Sultenfuss (Anna Chlumsky) has good reason to be morbid: her mother died giving birth to her, and her father (Dan Aykroyd) operates a funeral service out of their home. The other kids think she's a freak, and it certainly doesn't help that her best friend, Thomas J. Sennett (Macaulay Culkin), is a boy. To make matters worse, Vada is desperately in love with her English teacher, Mr. Bixler (Griffin Dunne). Such is life for an 11-year-old girl.

*Possible Spoilers*

Review: 

There are some movies that you just gain an instant connection with. My Girl is one of them. It’s a wonderful movie that pulls you in through the vibrant and beautiful friendship between Vada and Thomas J. We follow their adventures and time together, after which it rips out your heart and that is why movies should never be watched.

Vada is a wonderful heroin. She’s warm, kind, and extremely confident. She values the people close to her. On the surface Vada didn’t appear to be afraid of very much. She was quite adventurous. It must have been so difficult for her growing up in a funeral home. It was made obvious that, despite using it to tease and earn some cheeky money from the other boys in her neighbourhood, it made her uncomfortable. She would sing the song “Do Wha Diddy Diddy” and cover her ears. This was an ongoing trait throughout the film. 

The friendship between Vada and Thomas J is the cutest thing I’ve seen in a movie since Forrest and Jenny in Forrest Gump. It’s what makes this film so special. Vada is loyal to Thomas J and even though she would never say so out loud, cares for him very deeply. And he cares for her very deeply too. Vada is teased abundantly for having a best friend who is a boy but she fights back and stays by his side no matter what was said. Thomas J says numerous times during the movie that she is his best friend. On one of their adventures, she lost her mood ring following a quick getaway from some bees. Later, Thomas J went back to get it for her, which was incredibly cute and sweet.

The relationship between Vada and her father is somewhat strained. It isn’t helped when he starts going out with his new makeup employee, Shelley, played by Jamie Lee Curtis. At first I thought she and Vada were getting on really well but then once Shelley became romantically involved with her father, Vada developed a distaste towards her thinking her father loved her more than he loved Vada. Thomas J always approved of her though. I think she was lovely to Vada and a lovely presence for to have in her life following her mother's passing. 

Vada’s relationship with her English teacher was very sweet as well. Vada has so many people who care so much for her. She really is a special girl. Hence the title! 

I just loved this movie so much. I really don’t want to spoil it for anybody who hasn’t seen it, because the first ¾ are just so cute. All the characters are so endearing, really lovable. 

But tissues are essential when viewing. 

I was warned it was going to be sad but I didn’t know why and I didn’t want to know. I’m glad I didn’t know. But my goodness it’s a kick in the gut when it happens. It's just because it happens so unexpectedly and is heartbreakingly unfair. I cried so much. Writers are cruel, horrible people. I’m not going to go into detail. I want people to watch it without knowing, if it’s possible. Allow yourselves to fall in love with the characters. It really is one of the sweetest films you will ever watch. 

Final Rating: 5/5 Stars 

Trailer: