hollywood stargirl movie review

‘Hollywood Stargirl’ Review: Grace VanderWaal Wows in a Splendid Disney+ Sequel

An unsinkable young woman discovers that her voice inspires everyone around her in this love letter to anyone who dreams big.

By Courtney Howard

Courtney Howard

• ‘My Penguin Friend’ Review: Jean Reno and an Adorable Penguin Overcome Strife in Family-Friendly Charmer 4 weeks ago
• ‘Skincare’ Review: Elizabeth Banks Stars in Fictionalized True Story That Only Goes Skin Deep 4 weeks ago
• ‘The Girl in the Pool’ Review: Freddie Prinze Jr. Tries to Hide His Mistress’ Corpse in a Schlocky Thriller With More Laughs Than Suspense 2 months ago

Director Julia Hart has quietly crafted a Disney+ franchise that continues to unfold in creative and charming ways. Her adaptation of “Stargirl” debuted on the streamer just as lockdown began; now with “ Hollywood Stargirl ,” the second film in the series, it’s clear the writer-director’s voice has taken shape in the same assured way as that of her young heroine. Hart and co-writer Jordan Horowitz ’s follow-up goes blessedly off-book, diverging greatly from author Jerry Spinelli’s source novel “Love, Stargirl” to deliver its own unique view on how artistic passion evolves and inspires. The sequel shifts perspective from the original, which captured the eponymous teen’s triumphs through a male protagonist’s lens, and better foregrounds her sparkle and shine.

Sentimental songbird Stargirl Caraway ( Grace VanderWaal ) is once again on the move, traveling from the subdued suburban haunts of Mica, Arizona to the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles. Yet she’s grown tired of feeling like a rolling stone without a home. It’s the summer before her senior year and her mom Ana (Judy Greer) has finally landed her big break as the costume designer on a studio film. The road-weary pair are more than ready to settle into their new, potentially permanent adventure in the eclectic enclave of Los Feliz. However, true gratification won’t come without hurdles.

Related Stories

High-Resolution 8K Has Its Places, but TV Might Not Be One of Them

Nat Geo Doc 'Killer Lies: Chasing a True Crime Con Man' Examines How a Serial Killer Expert Was Unmasked as a Serial Liar

Stargirl’s indomitable spirit, quirky style and perfect pipes instantly get her noticed by a few folks, including curmudgeonly downstairs neighbor Mr. Mitchell (Judd Hirsch), a retired film producer, and cute boy next door Evan (Elijah Richardson), an aspiring filmmaker. While both have opposite reactions upon overhearing her ukulele-forward cover of ‘Mama’ Cass Elliot’s “Make Your Own Kind of Music,” it’s Evan who enlists her to help him and his brother Terrell (Tyrel Jackson Williams) make a sizzle reel for their movie idea — which, of course, vaguely parallels the story of “Hollywood Stargirl” itself. While Ana is busy with demanding work constraints, Stargirl embarks on a personal mission to write her own music and lyrics, no longer relying on someone else’s artistry to elevate her own talents.

Popular on Variety

Hart and her team have carefully and craftily built the ultimate sequel. The narrative advances the perky protagonist’s internal and external objectives with a gentle yet profound arc; technical contributions complement her journey, both visually and sonically. The film never betrays its lead character in any fashion. Though other characters predictably change for the better for having known her, they also reinforce the themes. Caustic, disillusioned singer-songwriter Roxanne Martel (Uma Thurman) rejects a request to use one of her songs, but it sparks Stargirl and Evan’s drive to create their own melancholy bop — one that delivers a resounding message on the nature of the business and the notion of resourcefulness.

Shooting the film like a sweet summer romance where daily possibilities are endless and the Southern California weather is always pristine, Hart and cinematographer Bryce Fortner complement our heroine’s innate vibrancy with a fresh, saturated palette, while handheld shots aid the immediacy and intimacy of introspective moments. Editors Tracey Wadmore-Smith and Shayar Bhansali allow room for interstitial sequences that showcase the peaceful beauty of Los Angeles, from twinkling city lights to the jacaranda and palm trees sharing the landscape. Composers Rob Simonsen and Duncan Blickenstaff’s themes combine to entrancing effect as Stargirl’s talents mature, with the soundtrack itself — a mix of original songs by Michael Penn and covers of Blondie’s “Dreaming” and Brian Wilson’s “Love And Mercy,” among others — also leveling up from the previous picture.

With her pixie hairdo, reserves of strength and sweet, soft-spoken voice evoking classic Mia Farrow, VanderWaal is once again a magnetic presence. With the material primarily focused on her this time, she brings greater authenticity and pathos to an established character. Richardson, a buoyant, charismatic presence, pairs well with her, as the duo’s chemistry sells us on their young, innocent love. As for the adults, Greer’s brings depth and dimension to Ana, providing a nuanced sense of parental guilt in balancing dreams with pragmatic reality. Thurman and Hirsch likewise excel in tough, tender supporting roles.

Ultimately, the film’s strength is in its sentiments surrounding the notion of success: what it can look like, how to get it and how to sustain it in a fickle industry. It’s a meaningful love letter to the artistic, creative process, dedicated to dreamers with unwavering ambition.

Reviewed online, May 28, 2022. Running time: 103 MIN.

• Production: A Disney+ release of a Gotham Group, Original Headquarters production. Producers: Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Lee Stollman, Jordan Horowitz. Executive producers: Kristin Hahn, Nathan Kelly, Jerry Spinelli.
• Crew: Director: Julia Hart. Screenplay: Hart, Jordan Horowitz. Camera: Bryce Fortner. Editor: Tracey Wadmore-Smith, Shayar Bhansali. Music: Rob Simonsen, Duncan Blickenstaff.
• With: Grace VanderWaal, Judy Greer, Elijah Richardson, Tyrel Jackson Williams, Judd Hirsch, Uma Thurman.

More from Variety

Chappell Roan Sets the VMAs on Fire With Medieval-Themed Performance of ‘Good Luck Babe’

Annapurna-Remedy Deal Is Smart Solution to Gaming’s Funding Woes

Megan Thee Stallion Set as Host for MTV Video Music Awards

Eminem Opens 2024 MTV VMAs With Self-Referential Performance of ‘Houdini’ and ‘Somebody Save Me’

Fortnite’s Complicated Return to iOS Is Hardly a Victory

Blackpink’s Lisa, Halsey, Benson Boone, Lenny Kravitz to Perform at MTV’s VMAs

More from our brands, nigel lythgoe tried to use sean combs ruling to unmask accuser. it didn’t work.

Bethenny Frankel’s Longtime Home in the Hamptons Is Hitting the Market for $6 Million

Trump-Harris Debate Outdraws All NFL Games Besides Super Bowls

The Best Loofahs and Body Scrubbers, According to Dermatologists

Sabrina Carpenter Gets Freaky With an Alien at 2024 VMAs — Watch Performance and Grade It

Advertisement

Supported by

‘Hollywood Stargirl’ Review: Starting Anew in La La Land

Julia Hart’s bubbly sequel picks up the story in summertime and reframes around Stargirl, a character who in the first movie was auxiliary by design.

• Share full article

By Natalia Winkelman

After I read Jerry Spinelli’s best-selling Y.A. book “Stargirl,” titled for a quirky free spirit who spices up life for a diffident boy, I privately logged the name as a shorthand for stock female characters conjured to make men feel alive.

Julia Hart’s movie adaptation of “Stargirl” reproduced the novel’s more noxious clichés by locking us inside the male protagonist’s point of view and according Stargirl (Grace VanderWaal), a do-gooder ukulelist in suspenders, all the interiority of a decorative urn.

Loyal fans may then be startled to see that Hart’s sequel, “Hollywood Stargirl” ( on Disney+ ), takes a hard left turn into the carefree young lady’s world. The movie picks up during the summer before Stargirl’s senior year, when her costume designer mother (Judy Greer) relocates them to Los Angeles. Scarcely a day passes in the new city before the flower child meets the wholesome Evan (Elijah Richardson), an aspiring filmmaker who casts her as his co-star in a low-budget musical.

“Hollywood Stargirl” could be seen as a filmmaking exercise. How do you build a story around a character who was auxiliary by design? Hart’s solutions are manifold, but her most effective one is to quash the grating altruism that drove Stargirl in the first movie. In its place is a more balanced, authentic charisma. Numerous breathy pop song performances — including one where Stargirl duets with a washed-up musician played by Uma Thurman — leave little time for emotional development, but then again, when you’re starting out as a stargirl, how much personal growth do you need?

Hollywood Stargirl Rated PG. Running time: 1 hour 42 minutes. Watch on Disney+.

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

Hollywood Stargirl

Stargirl Caraway as she journeys out of Mica into a bigger world of music, dreams and possibility. Stargirl Caraway as she journeys out of Mica into a bigger world of music, dreams and possibility. Stargirl Caraway as she journeys out of Mica into a bigger world of music, dreams and possibility.

• Jordan Horowitz
• Jerry Spinelli
• Grace VanderWaal
• Elijah Richardson
• 24 User reviews
• 20 Critic reviews
• 66 Metascore

Top cast 42

• Stargirl Caraway

• Ana Caraway

• Roxanne Martel

• Mr. Mitchell

• Priya Collins

• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

More like this

Did you know

• Trivia Officially announced on February 22, 2021.
• Connections Follows Stargirl (2020)
• Soundtracks Just What I Needed Written by Ric Ocasek Performed by The Cars Courtesy of Elektra Entertainment Group By arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

User reviews 24

• greasygirlgoneclean
• Jun 24, 2022
• How long is Hollywood Stargirl? Powered by Alexa
• June 3, 2022 (United States)
• United States
• Belen, New Mexico, USA
• BCDF Pictures
• Gotham Group
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

• Runtime 1 hour 45 minutes
• Dolby Digital

Related news

Contribute to this page.

• See more gaps
• Learn more about contributing

More to explore

Recently viewed.

By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy . We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

‘Hollywood Stargirl’ Review: A Kind-Hearted Plea for the Way Filmmaking Could Be

Kate erbland, editorial director.

• Share on Facebook
• Share to Flipboard
• Share on LinkedIn
• Show more sharing options
• Submit to Reddit
• Post to Tumblr
• Print This Page
• Share on WhatsApp

Don’t let the name fool you: Stargirl isn’t looking to break into the Hollywood stratosphere. Mostly, she’s looking for some friends beyond her harried mom and adorable pet rat Cinnamon. For a gal as charming as Stargirl, as good-hearted and caring as she is, that shouldn’t be too much to ask, right? In the world of “Hollywood Stargirl,” a brightly lit and candy-colored place that verges on the fairy tale — if only because everyone who populates it is also charming, good-hearted, and caring — it’s not, with some caveats, the kind happily wrapped up in a fanciful package.

Filmmaker Julia Hart follows her first “Stargirl” feature film — a 2020 Disney+ outing based on Jerry Spinelli’s bestselling YA novel of the same name — with a suitably quirky and sweet sequel that builds on the Stargirl mythos with nothing but good intentions. Picking up soon after the events of the first “Stargirl” concluded (quick catch-up: Stargirl, played in both films by Grace VanderWaal, is an offbeat sweetheart who encourages people to embrace their true selves, a concept that went a bit topside in her former American high school, a place where individuality goes to die), “Hollywood Stargirl” finds our heroine again setting out on a new adventure.

Related Stories ‘Rez Ball’ Review: Sydney Freeland’s Basketball Drama Is a Feel-Good Winner ‘William Tell’ Review: A Folk Hero Fights for Swiss Independence in a by-the-Books Period Epic

This time, it’s Hollywood, as her costume designer mom Ana (Judy Greer, a welcome new addition to the fledgling franchise) has landed a gig on a bonafide movie, necessitating yet another move for the heartbroken Stargirl. She asks but one thing of her addled mama: can we stay in one place for at least a year? Ana acquiesces, and soon the duo are moving into the kind of lush, Spanish-style apartment building that would make “Melrose Place” residents jealous. (Even more fantastic: this is a version of LA where people can  walk  places and Stargirl’s resistance to getting a cell phone is wacky, not unsafe.)

Inevitably, it’s populated by the people who will soon form Stargirl’s latest band of devotees, including dreamy Evan (Elijah Richardson) and crotchety downstairs neighbor Mr. Mitchell (Judd Hirsch, earning his keep simply by the way he says “Hollywood Stargirl”). When Evan overhears Stargirl’s singing, he’s a goner. Does Stargirl want to be friends? And maybe also star in the movie he’s trying to make with his big-talking brother Terrell (Tyrel Jackson Williams)? It’s Hollywood, after all!

But this Hollywood isn’t the same beast we’re used to seeing on the big screen, and presumably a very different one than Hart and her co-writer and husband Jordan Horowitz are used to navigating in order to make their own films. The big difference: Stargirl (and her friends) are possessed of talent, good intentions, and better manners, and while their success never seems assured, “Hollywood Stargirl” is a feel-good family film for a reason: the good people win. In Hollywood, that’s an offbeat choice.

That’s not to say that everyone in “Hollywood Stargirl” is a big-hearted gem. Ana has to deal with a jerky director who threatens her career, while Stargirl’s unexpected mentor (Uma Thurman playing a one-hit-wonder folk singer turned big-time music producer) is beset by a bout of imposter syndrome that sometimes turns her into kind of a meanie. But still, those problems only fuel Stargirl and her new dream of making a cute musical that sounds a bit like “La La Land Lite” and that — truly, only in the movies — might actually rocket her, Evan, and Terrell to real fame based on  merit.

Spinelli’s hit YA novel did spawn its own sequel, “Love, Stargirl,” in which his irrepressible heroine moved to a small town in Pennsylvania (Hollywood, it ain’t) and worked her magic on a similarly disparate group of friends and neighbors. Hart and Horowitz’s choice to take Stargirl straight to Hollywood does diverge from that original vision, but it also more firmly establishes the character as just as much a product of the duo’s dreams and imagination as Spinelli himself. And VanderWaal, yet another example of Hart and Horowitz’s incredible knack for casting, plays her in such a way that it’s impossible to imagine another Stargirl, in Pennsylvania and beyond.

And yet “Hollywood Stargirl,” for all its charm, doesn’t quite hang together as a complete story. It feels like an episode, a vignette, a tiny slice of Stargirl’s remarkable life suddenly turned into a filmmaking parable she’d likely balk at. Funnily enough, that sensibility makes the case for Stargirl to become a TV star, to spawn her own series of weekly adventures. But “Hollywood Stargirl” has dug its star a bit of a hole: now she’s a  movie  star. Where else in the world can she possibly go? With a spirit like Stargirl’s, we can only hope it’s somewhere new.

“Hollywood Stargirl” starts streaming on Disney+ on Friday, June 3.

Most Popular

You may also like.

Common Sense Media

Movie & TV reviews for parents

• For Parents
• For Educators
• Our Work and Impact

Or browse by category:

• Movie Reviews
• Best Movie Lists
• Best Movies on Netflix, Disney+, and More

Common Sense Selections for Movies

50 Modern Movies All Kids Should Watch Before They're 12

• Best TV Lists
• Best TV Shows on Netflix, Disney+, and More
• Common Sense Selections for TV
• Video Reviews of TV Shows

Best Kids' Shows on Disney+

Best Kids' TV Shows on Netflix

• Book Reviews
• Best Book Lists
• Common Sense Selections for Books

8 Tips for Getting Kids Hooked on Books

50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12

• Game Reviews
• Best Game Lists

Common Sense Selections for Games

• Video Reviews of Games

Nintendo Switch Games for Family Fun

• Podcast Reviews
• Best Podcast Lists

Common Sense Selections for Podcasts

Parents' Guide to Podcasts

• App Reviews
• Best App Lists

Social Networking for Teens

Gun-Free Action Game Apps

Reviews for AI Apps and Tools

• YouTube Channel Reviews
• YouTube Kids Channels by Topic

Parents' Ultimate Guide to YouTube Kids

YouTube Kids Channels for Gamers

• Preschoolers (2-4)
• Little Kids (5-7)
• Big Kids (8-9)
• Pre-Teens (10-12)
• Teens (13+)
• Screen Time
• Social Media
• Online Safety
• Identity and Community

How to Help Kids Build Character Strengths with Quality Media

• Family Tech Planners
• Digital Skills
• All Articles
• Latino Culture
• Black Voices
• Asian Stories
• Native Narratives
• LGBTQ+ Pride
• Best of Diverse Representation List

Multicultural Books

YouTube Channels with Diverse Representations

Podcasts with Diverse Characters and Stories

Hollywood stargirl.

• Common Sense Says
• Parents Say 4 Reviews
• Kids Say 2 Reviews

Common Sense Media Review

Wholesome tween sequel has positive messages.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Hollywood Stargirl is the sequel to Stargirl , which was based on the YA novel of the same name. The title character (Grace VanderWaal) is a talented singer who's never had time to settle in anywhere and make lasting friendships because her hardworking costume designer mom has…

Why Age 10+?

Mac, iPhone, Google, Hollywood, Disneyland, LA Times, Los Angeles locations, the

A character mentions a difficult childhood. Suggestion of inappropriate behavior

Two teenagers kiss after affirming consent.

Two teens hang out in the back of a bar where people are drinking.

Any Positive Content?

Artists of all kinds pursue their passion. Stargirl has an open mind, treats eve

You never know what someone else has been through. Regrets are hard to grapple w

Main characters are pretty evenly split between Black and White.

Products & Purchases

Mac, iPhone, Google, Hollywood, Disneyland, LA Times , Los Angeles locations, the Stargirl books and films.

Violence & Scariness

A character mentions a difficult childhood. Suggestion of inappropriate behavior by a film director who is under investigation.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Positive Role Models

Artists of all kinds pursue their passion. Stargirl has an open mind, treats everyone she meets with kindness and respect. She befriends an older man who needs a friend, inspires a former singer to get back up on stage. Ana tries to support her daughter but doesn't realize how much Stargirl craves stability. Their landlady offers them a month's free rent when she finds out they're out of work. Terrell and Evan believe in their dreams and work hard to make them happen. Stargirl corrects a man who calls her "sweetheart" by reminding him of her name.

Positive Messages

You never know what someone else has been through. Regrets are hard to grapple with. Learn from mistakes rather than regretting them. Kids and teens need stability. Kindness and hope get you further than cynicism.

Diverse Representations

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Parents need to know that Hollywood Stargirl is the sequel to Stargirl , which was based on the YA novel of the same name . The title character ( Grace VanderWaa l) is a talented singer who's never had time to settle in anywhere and make lasting friendships because her hardworking costume designer mom has moved her around so much. The main messages center on believing in yourself, never giving up on your dreams, and always treating others with kindness and respect. Stargirl and her new Hollywood friends embody these themes. One of those friends becomes a boyfriend, and the two share several kisses. They also hang out in the back of a bar where adults drink and the boyfriend's older brother works. One character mentions a difficult childhood, and there's a suggestion of inappropriate behavior by a film director who's under investigation. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Parent and Kid Reviews

• Parents say (4)
• Kids say (2)

Based on 4 parent reviews

Beautiful Film with little conflict

What's the story.

Stargirl ( Grace VanderWaa l) and her costume designer mom, Ana ( Judy Greer ), are moving to Los Angeles in HOLLYWOOD STARGIRL. Ana has landed a job on a film, and Stargirl only wants to stay in the same place for her last year of high school. Soon after landing, Stargirl meets her neighbors -- teen Evan (Elijah Richardson), his big brother Terrell (Tyrel Jackson Williams), and former producer Mr. Mitchell ( Judd Hirsch ). Evan and Terrell are working on a movie of their own, and they quickly attach Stargirl to play the lead female role. Her singing chops provide the theme song after her celebrity crush, retired singer Roxanne Martel ( Uma Thurman ), turns her down on using her own cult '90s tune. Everything has fallen into place for Stargirl, until circumstances look like they might change for her ... again.

Is It Any Good?

This pleasant Disney film skates on the surface of its characters, setting, and themes, keeping it wholesome but also wholly unrealistic. Hollywood Stargirl 's characters are purposefully naive, and in the case of Stargirl and love interest Evan (an adorable Richardson), this feels appropriate and even sweet because of their age. For other characters, like the "grumpy" former producer, jaded failed singer, and aspiring filmmaker big brother, a little more edge would have added depth and a small dose of realism. Likewise, Hollywood and Los Angeles are properly cleaned up and sunlit.

VanderWaal's Jean Seberg-inspired hair and wardrobe are fabulous, even if a bit over the top for your average teen. Then again, the entire point seems to be that Stargirl is anything but average: She has innate talent (VanderWaal does have a memorable voice, and more singing from her would have been nice), inordinately good luck, and the power to change people's lives with her charm and confidence. She also doesn't own a phone. "I'm Stargirl," she introduces herself to her older neighbor. "Of course you are," he replies sarcastically. It doesn't take long for her to wear down his hard outer edge with her kindness and innocence. The film may have the same effect on its viewers.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the portrayal of teenage life and Los Angeles in Hollywood Stargirl . What seems realistic, and what less so? What are the effects of these choices?

What other films have you watched based on books? What can movies do differently or even better than books? What can books do better?

How would you describe the music in this film? How does Stargirl grow as a musician thanks to the initial rejection of Roxanne?

Movie Details

• On DVD or streaming : June 3, 2022
• Cast : Grace VanderWaal , Judy Greer , Uma Thurman
• Director : Julia Hart
• Inclusion Information : Female directors, Female actors, Female writers
• Studio : Disney+
• Genre : Family and Kids
• Topics : Book Characters , Friendship , Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models , High School , Music and Sing-Along
• Run time : 103 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG
• MPAA explanation : some mild language
• Last updated : September 3, 2024

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

What to watch next.

High School Musical

Sneakerella

Better Nate Than Ever

Best tween movies, best tween tv shows, related topics.

• Book Characters
• Great Boy Role Models
• Great Girl Role Models
• High School
• Music and Sing-Along

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

Notice: All forms on this website are temporarily down for maintenance. You will not be able to complete a form to request information or a resource. We apologize for any inconvenience and will reactivate the forms as soon as possible.

• DVD & Streaming

Hollywood Stargirl

• Drama , Musical , Romance

Content Caution

In Theaters

• Grace VanderWaal as Susan "Stargirl" Caraway; Elijah Richardson as Evan; Uma Thurman as Roxanne Martel; Judy Greer as Ana Caraway; Judd Hirsch as Mr. Mitchell; Tyrel Jackson Williams as Terrell; Al Madrigal as Iggy; Sarayu Blue as Alex; Chris Williams as George; Nija Okoro as Daphne

Home Release Date

• June 3, 2022

Distributor

Positive Elements   |   Spiritual Elements   |   Sexual & Romantic Content   |   Violent Content   |   Crude or Profane Language   |   Drug & Alcohol Content   |   Other Noteworthy Elements   | Conclusion

Movie Review

Stargirl was doing just fine in Arizona. In fact, she was better than fine. She’d made friends at Mica High School. She’d fallen in love (even if the relationship didn’t quite pan out). Why move?

Because Mom got a job elsewhere, that’s why—designing costumes for an honest-to-goodness movie . And that means she and Stargirl are going to have to move to Los Angeles. And that means Stargirl’s going to have to start over. Again.

She tells her mom that Cinnamon, her pet rat, is her oldest friend. That’s not normal. “Is this going to be a thing now?” she asks her mother, Ana. “Just going from place to place?”

No, Ana promises. In fact, she goes a step farther: Stargirl will finish her senior year in L.A. No more moving ‘til then. And, Ana reminds Stargirl, she has a whole summer to get used to sunny, SoCal. “Make some new friends that aren’t your pet rat,” Ana tells her.

Stargirl doesn’t even have to go outside to make her first one.

Right after they move into their new apartment, and as Stargirl sings and plays her signature ukulele, a boy chucks a few small rocks at her window. His name’s Evan. He’s the youngest son of Ava and Stargirl’s new L.A. landlord. He tells Stargirl that he and his older brother, Terrell, want to make a movie. And wow, given Stargirl’s vocal talents, Evan thinks she would just be perfect for it. If director Terrell approves, of course.

Terrell approves, of course. He needs only to hear her bring the house down in the club where he works to know that, yes indeed, Stargirl would be perfect for the film. Stargirl quickly becomes an equal partner in the project (because she’s just that sort of person), and she suggests the perfect song for her to sing in it. It’s by a woman named Roxanne Martel, who made one album in the 1990s and never made another. She seemed to have vanished from the musical world altogether.

But—and here’s the wild thing—Roxanne hangs out at the very club at which Terrell works. They don’t call her “Roxanne,” of course. They call her “Table Six,” because that’s where she sits every night, sipping on Shirley Temples all evening long.

Stargirl is not intimidated by Table Six. She walks right up to her, tells Roxanne what a big fan she is and asks if she can use her song in a movie.

“No,” Roxanne tells her, scowling hard enough to crack wood. “You’re gonna have to figure out your own thing. Disneyland’s closed, kid.”

But this is a Disney movie. And you know that Stargirl—just like Cinderella and Belle and Anna—will find her way to a happy ending.

Even if she has to deal with Table Six to get it.

Positive Elements

Sure, Stargirl experiences her share of luck in this story. But the plucky adolescent is awfully good to the people around her, too. And maybe there’s something to be learned from there: That sometimes, a good attitude and luck go hand-in-hand.

Stargirl’s infectious optimism impacts most everyone she meets. Her influence is perhaps most noticeable as she deals with Mr. Mitchell, Ana and Stargirl’s grouchy downstairs neighbor. He grouses about the teen’s singing; so she gives him a pair of fuzzy red earmuffs, which he takes to wearing about the yard. Soon, the two are talking about Mr. Mitchell’s old career (a movie producer) and his son (estranged). And by the end of the film, Scrooge-like Mr. Mitchell has taken almost a Scrooge-like turn.

“I was always good at fixing problems in movies, but I was never that good in real life,” he admits. “You gave me something that I thought only existed in pictures. I’m suddenly the guy who wants to know everything and everyone, and I want them to know me.”

He offers a bit of sage advice, too: “Make mistakes, but don’t regret them. Learn from them, because regrets are the hardest things to carry when you get older.”

Stargirl’s charms impact everyone around her, from her closest friends to people she just meets on the bus. (She gives a bus passenger her colorful hat, for instance, much to the passenger’s delight.) She even gets her mother to take a leap of faith and follow through on an important promise—even though it’s risky.

Ana knows what she has in her daughter, too. She admits to Stargirl that she’s messed up a lot in her life. But Ana looks at her and knows that she got at least one thing right.

“The thing that mattered most turned out the best,” Ana says.

But Stargirl learns a lesson or two, as well—most especially from her setback with Roxanne. When she refused to let Stargirl sing her song, Stargirl was forced to write one herself. And that, we learn, was exactly what Roxanne wanted all along.

Spiritual Elements

Roxanne’s album, and the track that Stargirl wants to sing, is called “Miracle Mile.” The song isn’t religious, but it does contain exhortations to “believe” and to embrace mercy.

Sexual & Romantic Content

Stargirl and Evan are clearly attracted to each other. They kiss a couple of times—first as part of the movie, then when the cameras aren’t rolling. (Evan politely asks permission.) When Evan asks her whether she’s ever had a boyfriend before, Stargirl admits that she has (as chronicled in the original movie Stargirl ). “I think that if you loved someone, that’s always there, somewhere,” she tells him. “But I’m here with you, OK?”

The movie that Ana is working on gets shut down because of an interaction between the director and someone else involved in the film. We don’t hear what that interaction is, but we do hear that someone’s doing an “investigation” of the matter, which brings to mind a number of sexual harassment charges that have come to light in the movie industry.

Ana tells Stargirl a bit about a time she lived in L.A. that involved a failed relationship.

Violent Content

Crude or profane language.

We hear one use of the word “d–n” and a few misuses of God’s name. Outside those instances, though, the film keeps its language pretty clean.

Drug & Alcohol Content

As mentioned, Terrell works in a nightclub, and we see various beverages (presumably alcoholic) in front of most of the patrons. The exception is “Table Six,” aka Roxanne, who drinks a steady stream of non-alcoholic Shirley Temples (a mixture of lime soda, ginger ale and grenadine).

While Stargirl performs during an open mic night at the club (and again later in the film), Terrell tries to keep her and Evan (neither of whom are close to the legal drinking age) in a part of the bar reserved for non-drinkers. Stargirl and Evan both venture into the drinking portion of the bar at least once, but the manager shoos them back, muttering that he doesn’t want to “get arrested for letting kids hang out at the bar.”

Other Noteworthy Elements

One character lies. The director Ana works with is, indeed, a jerk.

In 2019, HBO unveiled a show titled Euphoria , a story about high school kids that was filled with mountains of drugs and sex and bad behavior. For its creator Sam Levinson, Euphoria only reflected reality. As he told Entertainment Weekly :

“I feel like this is a debate that goes on constantly throughout time, where people go, ‘Parents are gonna be scared,’ and you go ‘Yeah.’ And young people will be like, ‘Yeah, that’s my life.’”

Euphoria is extreme, but hardly alone. Most movies and television shows about teens assume that drinking and drugs and promiscuous sex are just part of the landscape. What separates the “good” kids from the “bad” ones aren’t as much whether they do these things or not, but rather how responsibly they do them.

And that makes Hollywood Stargirl —a sequel to Disney’s 2020 Stargirl —a delightfully countercultural experience.

When Evan and Stargirl simply touch hands, it’s a big, momentous deal. When Evan asks for Stargirl’s phone number, she tells him that she doesn’t have a phone. Underage drinking? Not even a temptation. And this, in the middle of Los Angeles.

And even though the movie is, by most standards, quite innocent, some of the messages are responsibly mature.

When “Table Six” tells Stargirl about her failed attempt at becoming a star, she talks honestly about feeling rejected and even a little ashamed. But she also talks about how she moved on from there and found purpose in other avenues. “Just ‘cause it doesn’t look like you thought it would doesn’t mean you’re not living your dream,” she says.

And then again, as Terrell, Evan and Stargirl’s sizzle reel wraps up and Terrell wonders how it’ll be received, Stargirl herself says something fairly cogent: “Well, we love it, right?” she says. “We had fun making it. That’s all that matters. Whatever comes next, we did it. And we did it together.”

Disney often gives us protagonists that experience oversized success—screen-based fame avatars that Disney’s young viewers can point to and say, I wanna be like that, perhaps not understanding that fame is as much a product of luck as skill, or that celebrity is often faint and fleeting. And while this film indeed gives us a typical, even rote Disney ending, these little notes of realism should not go unnoticed.

Certainly, Hollywood Stargirl won’t land on Hollywood’s list of greatest cinematic achievements. But powered by Grace VanderWaal’s delicate singing, the cast’s charisma and an innocent-but-grounded understanding of what it is, Hollywood Stargirl is watchable and likable. And that’s enough to make fans of innocent fare practically euphoric as a result.

Paul Asay has been part of the Plugged In staff since 2007, watching and reviewing roughly 15 quintillion movies and television shows. He’s written for a number of other publications, too, including Time, The Washington Post and Christianity Today. The author of several books, Paul loves to find spirituality in unexpected places, including popular entertainment, and he loves all things superhero. His vices include James Bond films, Mountain Dew and terrible B-grade movies. He’s married, has two children and a neurotic dog, runs marathons on occasion and hopes to someday own his own tuxedo. Feel free to follow him on Twitter @AsayPaul.

Latest Reviews

God’s Not Dead: In God We Trust

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

The Front Room

Weekly Reviews Straight to your Inbox!

‘Hollywood Stargirl’: Likable Disney+ teen brings some sparkle to Tinseltown

In movie sequel, talented grace vanderwaal returns as the infectiously sweet singer, now starstruck and lovestruck..

In “Hollywood Stargirl,” the quirky and kind title character (Grace VanderWaal) is newly transplanted to Los Angeles.

Stargirl Caraway from “Hollywood Stargirl” and Rue Bennett from “Euphoria” are about the same age, and they live in the same general area — but they might as well be from separate worlds, given the disparity in tone between the sun-dappled, understated and hopeful Disney+ “Stargirl” movies and the notoriously dark and edgy “Euphoria.” I’m a big fan of the latter series and all its admirable risk-taking, but I like that there’s also room in the Teen Drama Universe for something sugar-coated and light, something uplifting with an almost fairy tale-like vibe.

Something like “Stargirl” (2020) and this sequel, which builds on the previous story and leaves us hoping there will be more feature-length films or even a “Stargirl” limited series, as long as the gifted Julia Hart remains attached as director and the talented Grace VanderWaal returns to play the quirky, kind and enormously likable title character.

Whereas the original “Stargirl” was an adaptation of the Jerry Spinelli novel of the same name, director Hart and her co-writer (and husband) Jordan Horowitz have crafted what is essentially an original story this time in lieu of using Spinelli’s sequel “Love, Stargirl” as the source material. The result is a follow-up that’s at least as strong as the original and builds on the Stargirl character, giving her more notes to play (so to speak) and a more complex personality. What carries over is Stargirl’s infectious personality and her unique ability to make everyone around her just a little happier, a little more inquisitive, a little more willing to lower their defenses and allow themselves to care. She’s … awesome.

“Hollywood Stargirl” picks up with Stargirl and her mother Ana (the ubiquitous and always wonderful Judy Greer) once again on the road — as they’ve been for most of their lives — this time landing in Los Angeles, where Ana has landed a dream job as the costume designer on a studio film. As they settle into their new apartment in the Los Feliz neighborhood, Ana assures Stargirl they’ll be staying put at least for a year, maybe even longer, which is an almost revolutionary concept for this wandering mother-daughter duo.

Soon after the boxes are unpacked, Stargirl takes out her ukulele and gives herself a musical pep talk in the form of her take on the Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil pop classic “Make Your Own Kind of Music” (a Top 40 hit for the legendary Cass Elliot), drawing the instant admiration of her neighbor Evan (Elijah Richardson). This being a “Stargirl” movie, it just so happens that Evan and his older brother Terrell (Tyrel Jackson Williams) are looking for a leading lady for a “sizzle reel” of their movie idea — and Stargirl would be perfect!

Stargirl (Grace VanderWaal) records with new friend Evan (Elijah Richardson).

Evan and Stargirl like to hang out at the bar where Terrell works (don’t worry, Stargirl drinks Shirley Temples) and take in the performances by the local amateurs, and Stargirl is, well, starstruck when she realizes the woman who sits quietly alone every night is none other than Roxanne Martel (Uma Thurman), a singer-songwriter who released one album decades ago and then mysteriously disappeared from the scene. Stargirl wants to use one of Roxanne’s songs on the sizzle reel, but Roxanne says it’s time for Stargirl to branch out from doing covers and well, make her own kind of music, sing her own special song … even if nobody else sings along!

“Stargirl” isn’t a traditional musical, but it’s brimming with catchy tunes, from “Just What I Needed” by the Cars and “Everywhere” by Fleetwood Mac, to Stargirl’s take on Brian Wilson’s “Love and Mercy” and Blondie’s “Dreaming” to original songs by Michael Penn. Director Hart and cinematographer Bryce Fortner embrace the romantic side of the Southern California locations, creating something of a movie-within-the-movie as we root for Stargirl, Evan and Terrell as they shoot that sizzle reel. We know we’re in for a romance between Stargirl and Evan from the moment Evan tosses pebbles against her window and Romeos her Juliet, but VanderWaal and Richardson are wonderful together and the courtship feels natural.

Meanwhile, it’s a joy to see Judd Hirsch puttering his way through yet another role in which he’s the crusty fussbudget with the heart of gold (he’s been doing this at least since “Independence Day”), while Uma Thurman lends her indelible beauty, down-to-earth charm and sly wit to the role of Roxanne, and Judy Greer brings empathy to what could be a relatively unforgiving role as the free-spirited albeit always loving mother who has let her daughter down one time too many. “Hollywood Stargirl” is smart, family-friendly entertainment with the perfect combination of real-world plausibility and magical escapism.

• Action/Adventure
• Children's/Family
• Documentary/Reality
• Amazon Prime Video

More From Decider

New Shows & Movies To Watch This Weekend: 'The Perfect Couple' on...

‘Bachelorette’ Finale Drama Spills Onto TikTok: Maria Georgas Admits...

'The Perfect Couple' Ending Explained: Who Was the Killer?

Fall TV Preview 2024: 'Yellowstone,' 'Outlander,' and So Much More

'The Bachelorette' Did Jenn Tran Dirty With Unbelievably Cruel Finale

Fall Streaming Movie Preview: 13 Movies We’re Hyped For, From...

11 Best New Movies on Netflix: September 2024's Freshest Films to Watch

Joey Chestnut Addresses Longstanding Takeru Kobayashi Rivalry Ahead Of...

Share this:.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to copy URL

Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Hollywood Stargirl’ on Disney+, A Movie That Celebrates Youthfulness And Hope

Where to stream:.

• Hollywood Stargirl

Stream It Or Skip It: 'Seoul Busters' On Hulu, A Korean Dramedy About An Inept Squad Of Detectives Who Work In An Abandoned Daycare Center

Never forget: best 9/11 documentaries, shows, and movies to watch on netflix, hbo & amazon prime, is 'dancing with the stars' on tonight 'dancing with the stars' 2024 premiere date, streaming info, james earl jones was best known for his booming voice, but his power came from his keen ability to listen intently.

Jerry Spinelli’s 2000 novel about a carefree girl got the film treatment early in the pandemic, which was well received by critics and fans alike. The film spawned a sequel — out on Disney+ now, and not an adaptation of Spinelli’s follow-up Love, Stargirl — with the same team behind the first installment. Does it capture the same nostalgic magic?

HOLLYWOOD STARGIRL : STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

The Gist: Picking up after the events of 2020 film Stargirl , Hollywood Stargirl chronicles Stargirl (Grace VanderWaal) and her mom Anna (Judy Greer) finding and creating a new home for themselves in Los Angeles. After her mother gets a new job as a costume designer on an LA-based film set, their family relocates and Stargirl immediately clicks with aspiring writer and director brothers Evan (Elijah Richardson) and Terrell (Tyrel Jackson Williams), and agrees to star in their movie. Along the way Stargirl befriends a retired singer Roxanne Martel and shows her how to love music again before bad news about her mom’s job threatens to rock their foundation once again.

What Will It Remind You Of?: With all of its song and dance, LA romanticism, and story about dreamers, it feels somewhat like a YA version of La La Land (without the tragic ending, of course).

Performance Worth Watching: VanderWaal is extremely charismatic at the center of the film, and her chemistry with Richardson is heartwarming.

Memorable Dialogue: The film is a celebration of youthfulness and hope, and Stargirl is a free spirit who always follows her heart. One of the most striking quotes comes near the end when Stargirl asks her curmudgeonly neighbor for advice and he warns her of the pitfalls of adulthood. “Make mistakes, but learn from them,” he says. “Don’t regret them. Because regrets are the hardest things to carry when you’re older.”

Sex and Skin: There is a very sweet romance in the film but there is nothing shown beyond a few innocent kisses.

Our Take: Watching this movie feels like a warm hug. It’s so lovely. For a premise that could easily veer into manic pixie dream girl territory with Stargirl’s eclectic vibes, writer/director Julia Hart and co-writer Jordan Horowitz manage to steer this movie away from falling into that trap. VanderWaal’s Stargirl isn’t played as odd or embarrassing, and her chemistry with Richardson really makes the film sing (pun intended). Judy Greer and Uma Thurman also show up and play ball as comforting and inspiring adult characters who aren’t above learning a thing or two about life from a teenager.

It helps that the film’s universe is filled with good, benevolent characters — even a producer taking a chance on a student film providing a $1 million budget for them to chase their dreams. The result is a film that isn’t cynical or wary about the world, but chooses to highlight the good things that can happen with a little bit of hope and belief. Even if that sentiment doesn’t feel realistic in the world we live in today, it’s nice to spend a little time being charmed by the idea. Further, it’s refreshing that the dramatic tension in the film doesn’t feel manufactured but rather appears somewhat naturally from what we know about these characters and the circumstances of their lives. It only makes the stakes higher.

As a jukebox musical, the songs also have to be catchy and emotional, and the film succeeds. Whether it’s a cover of the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson or a song composed for the movie, each musical moment captures the emotional energy needed. A number at the end with VanderWaal and Thurman singing Blondie’s “Dreaming” is a standout.

Even if you have no context of the burgeoning Stargirl franchise, the movie is inviting enough to work without any prior context.

Will you stream or skip the feel-good sequel #HollywoodStargirl on @disneyplus ? #SIOSI — Decider (@decider) June 5, 2022

Our Call: STREAM IT. It’s bubbly and hopeful, which is exactly what we all need right now.

Radhika Menon ( @menonrad ) is a TV-obsessed writer based in New York City. Her work has appeared on Vulture, Teen Vogue, Paste Magazine, and more. At any given moment, she can ruminate at length over Friday Night Lights, the University of Michigan, and the perfect slice of pizza. You may call her Rad.

• Grace VanderWaal
• Stream It Or Skip It

'Jane The Virgin' Is Leaving Netflix — Where To Watch The Beloved Gina Rodriguez Romantic Dramedy Online

Joy Behar Repulsed As Dax Shepard Tells 'The View' What He Did When He First Met Kristen Bell: "That's Disgusting"

Joy Behar Flusters Gov. Josh Shapiro After Turning His Remark About Hooking Up With Ana Navarro Into Something Dirty: "Was That On-Air?"

'The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives' Star Demi Engemann Says Her Husband Was Married To This 'RHOSLC' Star: "Utah Is Very Small"

Does 'Yellowstone' Return Tonight? 'Yellowstone' Season 5, Episode 9 Paramount Network Premiere Date

How To Watch Tonight's Packers-Eagles Friday Night Football Game: Channel, Free Live Stream Info

Hollywood Stargirl REVIEW – Of Starry-Eyed Daydreams

Hollywood Stargirl is the rare exception where the sequel is better than the original film.

Hollywood Stargirl is the sequel to 2017’s Stargirl, starring Grace VanderWaal in the titular role. The film follows Stargirl’s move to California with her mother Ana (Judy Greer), who’s taken on a job as costume designer on a movie. While Stargirl’s frustrated with having to move around so much, she’s also mature enough to understand why her mom’s uprooted their lives this way. This is her mom’s dream, and she wants to be supportive and help her realise it.

Left to her own devices most of the time, that’s how she meets neigbours Evan (Elijah Richardson) and Mr Mitchell (Judd Hirsch). She and Evan bond over music, and even though Mr Mitchell’s the grumpy neighbour telling her to keep it down, Stargirl’s natural empathy and kindness gradually wins him over. Evan tells her he’s written a script, which he and his brother Terrell (Tyrel Jackson Williams) are hoping to get made into a movie. Their plans for the summer is to make a sizzle reel, in order to pique producers to invest in their project. Even though Stargirl doesn’t know much about acting, she knows a thing or two about music and performing, so she agrees to do the movie with them.

VanderWaal is so effortlessly confident as Stargirl, with such a strong sense of self. It’s amazing to watch her go on stage and be so engaging — I wish I was that cool at her age. Stargirl’s costuming has an old Hollywood vibe, but they’re also kitschy enough to reflect her personality and vibe. Compared to so many other coming of age movies, Hollywood Stargirl sets itself apart tonally. It isn’t angsty, nor rife with conflict. Stargirl doesn’t have screaming matches with her mom about moving, nor have a meltdown when her mom can’t spend as much time with her due to her busy schedule. The movie does a wonderful job of highlighting the challenges single parents face, and Stargirl herself frequently reflects on that as well, knowing the extreme pressure her mom’s under.

Even the romance between Stargirl and Evan builds comfortably and naturally. We sense the spark between them from that first meeting – the little glances he throws her way, his awe and admiration for her talent. There’s an easy camaraderie about them, and it’s fun just watching them spend time together.

Everything’s light and breezy, even when the trio run into jaded musician Roxanne Martel (Uma Thurman), who put out this fantastic album and then stopped making music altogether. When Stargirl asks about using her song for their sizzle reel, Roxanne says no, not because she’s a bitter woman, but because she knows Stargirl has the capacity to create music on her own. The movie is very much about artists helping other artists, as Roxanne comes in to help them complete the song for their reel, and Mr Mitchell offers them equipment to help make their sizzle reel look better. Even when we think we’re not chasing our dreams anymore, we still are. We get so caught up in what chasing our dream is supposed to look like – wrapped up in the shiny gloss of success – that we can sometimes discount the things we have accomplished.

Hollywood Stargirl’s message really resonated with me, and is a great reminder of what making art is all about. It’s about the collaboration, the joy of doing these projects with your friends and the people you love. Oh, and the soundtrack’s pretty great too. And while the movie can meander a bit too much at times, I enjoyed taking this adventure with Stargirl, as she explored this space and made it her home.

Review screener provided .

READ NEXT: 10 Uplifting Movies To Begin The New Year With

Some of the coverage you find on Cultured Vultures contains affiliate links, which provide us with small commissions based on purchases made from visiting our site.

Gamezeen is a Zeen theme demo site. Zeen is a next generation WordPress theme. It’s powerful, beautifully designed and comes with everything you need to engage your visitors and increase conversions.

Latest Reviews

The piano (pc) review – hitting the wrong notes, mario tennis aces (switch) review – not quite ace, mark kermode’s secrets of cinema – episode 3 ‘coming of age’ review, red dead redemption 2 (ps4) review – a wild wild ride.

• Alone in the Dark 2024
• Announcements
• Assassin's Creed Mirage
• Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
• Blu-Ray Reviews
• Book Reviews
• Cheats & Codes
• Crunchyroll
• Discworld Discussions
• Disney Plus
• Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
• Football Manager 2024
• Game Previews
• Game Reviews
• Games To Play Before You Die
• Gaming Tips & Guides
• Grand Theft Auto 6
• Indie Gaming
• Make the Case
• Memorable Moments
• Movie Reviews
• Movies To See Before You Die
• PlayStation 4
• PlayStation 5
• PlayStation Plus
• Prime Video
• Q&A Interviews
• Short Stories
• Video Game Release Dates
• Video Games
• Where To Watch
• Writing Tips
• Xbox Game Pass
• Xbox Series X | S

Subscribe Today

Review: ‘Stargirl’ gets a sequel on Disney+, WWII flyboys and more movies to watch

• Copy Link URL Copied!

‘Hollywood Stargirl’

The 2020 Disney+ original movie “Stargirl” was a delightful surprise, adapting Jerry Spinelli’s cult-favorite young-adult novel in a way that matched its teenage heroine’s quirky, nonconformist vibe with a low-key indie-film feel — very different from the usual broad-stroke Disney sunniness. The sequel “Hollywood Stargirl” brings back the core creative team, including writer-director Julia Hart and her writer-producer husband, Jordan Horowitz, for an original story even more modestly scaled and amiable than its predecessor.

Grace VanderWaal returns as the title character: a ukulele-playing optimist and old-school pop music buff who follows her mother (Judy Greer) to Los Angeles, where she quickly gets involved in helping her neighbors Evan (Elijah Richardson) and Terrell (Tyrel Jackson Williams) make a sizzle reel for their independent movie project. As is her way, Stargirl also spreads her can-do spirit to two older acquaintances: a cranky retired Hollywood producer (Judd Hirsch) and a ’90s singer-songwriter (Uma Thurman) who never hit the big time.

Nothing that happens in “Hollywood Stargirl” is consequential or surprising. But the cast is likable, the music is good (featuring winning covers of canonical California songs like Brian Wilson’s “Love and Mercy” and Cass Elliot’s “Make Your Own Kind of Music”) and, as with “Stargirl,” there’s a bone-deep decency to this sequel that’s pretty disarming. This is a film about nice people funneling their positivity into something creative they hope will endure for decades, just like the music and movies they love.

‘Hollywood Stargirl.’ PG, for some mild language. 1 hour, 42 minutes. Available on Disney+

‘Wolf Hound’

It’s no “Top Gun: Maverick,” but filmgoers who have had their appetites whetted for high-flying military action might find a lot to like in “Wolf Hound,” a throwback World War II thriller loosely based on actual history. Directed by Michael B. Chait from a Timothy Ritchey screenplay, the movie stars James Maslow as U.S. bomber pilot David Holden, whose B-17 is shot down behind enemy lines. There he learns about the Nazis’ KG 200 unit, which has a plan to refashion his aircraft into a giant bomb, headed into Allied territories under Allied colors.

The KG 200 division of the Luftwaffe did exist, and was known for its unconventional use of planes, enemy and otherwise. But “Wolf Hound” doesn’t try to pass itself off as a “this is how it really was” docudrama. It’s an at times over-the-top piece of pulp fiction, with cartoonish villains and a ragtag band of one-dimensional heroes who say things like, “This is how we do it in Brooklyn!” before firing a rocket launcher.

Chait and company have a hard time coming up with enough plot to justify “Wolf Hound” stretching past two hours; and the long shootout scenes in the movie’s midsection do get taxing. But the extended aerial combat sequences at the start and end of the film are genuinely impressive for a non-blockbuster, and ought to grab the attention of genre aficionados. If the aim of this picture was to stage some thematically uncomplicated, eye-catching WWII action, then mission accomplished.

‘Wolf Hound.’ R, for violence. 2 hours, 10 minutes. Cinelounge Sunset, Hollywood; Lumiere Music Hall, Beverly Hills; also available on VOD

Musician Annie Hardy gives a boldly abrasive performance in director Rob Savage’s experimental, semi-improvised horror film “Dashcam,” which takes the form of a series of livestreams from an unhinged internet provocateur. Hardy plays a version of herself: an independent artist named Annie who has spent the COVID-19 pandemic posting videos from her car of raunchy freestyle pop songs and rants about government overreach. When Annie jets off to London at the start of the film, she quickly rubs her hosts the wrong way with her refusal to wear a mask and her raging disrespect for other people’s boundaries.

Then an even bigger problem arises. Mid-webcast, Annie crosses paths with an invulnerable, bloodthirsty monster — all while her followers keep a running text commentary going up the side of the screen. Savage does a remarkably good job of staging shocking and gory horror sequences within his “shot on the fly on a cellphone” gimmick.

This very short movie doesn’t have much to say, outside of suggesting that even people who loudly and obnoxiously proclaim themselves to be independent thinkers are still vulnerable. Mainly, Savage and his co-writers Gemma Hurley and Jed Shepherd cultivate chaos, keeping viewers constantly unsure of what might happen next — and unsure of whether or not they’re ultimately rooting for Annie. The filmmakers and Hardy sharply capture a particular type: the performative rebel, laser-focused on pushing other people’s buttons even while fleeing a demon.

‘Dashcam.’ R, for bloody violence, pervasive language and crude sexual references throughout. 1 hour, 16 minutes. Alamo Drafthouse, downtown Los Angeles; Laemmle Noho 7, North Hollywood; also available on VOD

‘Freakscene: The Story of Dinosaur Jr.’

In the decade before the more mainstream, Seattle-born style of “grunge” took over rock ’n’ roll, a handful of bands pioneered their own take on the sound, combing classic rock riffs, avant-garde noise and punk energy. One of the least likely survivors of that era is Amherst, Mass.’ Dinosaur Jr., a power trio whose ferocious roar and dreamy melodies made them staples of college radio in the ’80s and then — unexpectedly — regulars on MTV for a few years in the ’90s. The original members reunited in 2005, and have continued to tour and release albums just as squalling and oddly beautiful as ever.

Director Philipp Virus’ documentary “Freakscene: The Story of Dinosaur Jr.” is more for the band’s longtime fans than for people who need to be persuaded of their greatness. The film has a lo-fi look and a shaggy structure, and because Dinosaur Jr.’s singer-guitarist-visionary J Mascis rarely speaks above a halting mumble, the doc’s pacing flags pretty much whenever he talks. But the electrifying old live footage and the more dialed-in interviewees (including peers Henry Rollins, Frank Black and Kim Gordon) pick up Mascis’ slack. And since Dinosaur Jr. was always a band for alt-rock connoisseurs, perhaps it’s fitting that this movie about them is equal parts heartfelt and ungainly.

‘Freakscene: The Story of Dinosaur Jr..’ Not rated. 1 hour, 22 minutes. Available on VOD

Also on streaming, VOD

“Joe Papp in Five Acts” is an enlightening 2012 documentary about the progressive New York theater producer , whose free Shakespeare in the Park series is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. Featuring rare archival clips and frank interviews with the many A-list actors who worked for Papp, the film looks back at the radical changes the American theater went through from the 1950s through the ’80s. Available on PBS

“The Sanctity of Space” is the latest addition to the rich subgenre of nature documentaries about mountaineers attempting death-defying conquests. This stunning-looking film is set at and around Alaska’s Denali peak, and follows climbers maneuvering across the top of one of the mountain’s massifs. Available on VOD

Available now on DVD and Blu-ray

“Introduction” is the 25th movie directed by prolific Korean filmmaker Hong Sang-soo, who specializes in elliptical slice-of-life stories about people struggling to get on the same wavelength in their relationships. This film — shot in moody black-and-white — bounces between South Korea and Berlin, for a series of engaging vignettes in which characters talk around what they really mean to say. Cinema Guild

“1776” is the 1972 big-screen adaptation of the beloved Tony-winning musical, about how America’s Continental Congress bickered and bargained their way to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The new Blu-ray edition includes an extended cut of the film, along with commentary tracks and deleted scenes, all of which help tell the story of how this pre-“Hamilton” historical pageant came to be. Sony

More to Read

Review: In fizzy facts-optional ‘Fly Me to the Moon,’ faking Apollo 11 and falling in love

July 12, 2024

‘Practical Magic 2’ is officially happening. Will Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock return?

June 11, 2024

Tanya Trotter of War and Treaty says ‘Sister Act 3’ script is done, praises Whoopi Goldberg

June 10, 2024

Only good movies

Get the Indie Focus newsletter, Mark Olsen's weekly guide to the world of cinema.

You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.

More From the Los Angeles Times

Woody Harrelson wants snacks, soft drinks at his cannabis cafe. He needs Newsom’s signature

Sept. 11, 2024

Tyrese Gibson says ‘arrest’ after being found in contempt of court was ‘very traumatic’

Entertainment & Arts

James Earl Jones, who voiced Darth Vader in ‘Star Wars’ and starred in ‘Field of Dreams,’ dies at 93

Sept. 9, 2024

Harvey Weinstein is in recovery following emergency heart surgery

Movie Review: “Hollywood Stargirl” is a Fun if Not Improbable Feel Good Film

Disney+  is stepping back into the world of Jerry Spenelli’s Stargirl  with a slightly grown up sequel to the 2020 hit film. Along for the ride is Julia Hart who returns as director, Grace VanderWaal (sporting a pixie haircut) as Stargirl and several new faces including Elijah Richardson as Evan, Tyrel Jackson Williams as Tyrell, Judd Hirsch as the slightly grumpy Mr. Mitchell and Uma Thurman as musician Roxanne Martel. Judy Greer also joins the cast as Stargirl’s mom Ana Caraway.

While Spinelli has written a sequel, Love, Stargirl , Hollywood Stargirl  veers from the literary trajectory to tell an original tale. As someone who isn’t familiar with the books, I really think this movie works. VanderWaal perfectly embodies everything Stargirl is and following the first Disney+ film, this story feels like the natural next step for our titular hero.

Stargirl Caraway is a little older, a little wiser and as optimistic and hopeful as ever. But now she’s even more sure of what she wants and that’s to stay in a place long enough to make friends and really get to know them. She loves adventuring with her mom, but is ready to hunker down for a bit and become familiar with her surroundings. Ana’s latest job has her working as a costume designer on a major film and she promises they’ll stay in Los Angeles for her entire senior year. In the meantime, she has several weeks of summer to take advantage of and Stargirl instantly finds a connection to the City of Angels.

Back at home she meets the landlord’s son Evan who overhears her singing and dancing and he’s instantly under her spell…and she, his. He and his older brother Tyrell are making a movie and they need music for their sizzle reel. She accompanies him to the bar where Tyrell works and despite being underage, participates in the open mic night where she wins over the crowd, Tyrell, and makes an impression on a former musician Roxanne (Uma Thurman) before the manager asks the kiddos to leave.

There are no barriers too big for youth and optimism and Tyrel and Evan want Stargirl to play the female lead in their film. She agrees and the inexperienced trio sets out to get what they need to assemble a sizzle reel. The film follows the aspiring creators around the city lovingly showcasing the uniqueness of LA— lingering at sidewalk cafes and resale shops, walking through a farmers market, popping in on a night shoot and watching the waves roll in along the beach.

The soundtrack is sprinkled with samplings of VanderWaal’s covers both in the background and as part of the story. She’s as mesmerizing as ever and fans will hang on to every note and line. Thurman also contributes with Roxanne’s one hit, but it’s the original song “Figure it Out” (written by VanderWaal) that will stick with audiences not only for its melody, but also its message.

As for the cast, there’s a fondness for each other that seems to extend beyond the screen and everyone’s happiness comes across as genuine. I have a feeling that VanderWaal—just like her character—has a magical effect on everyone she meets. Meanwhile Richardson has the most infectious smile and proves to be great opposite Stargirl; Williams’ positive energy matches that of his on screen brother; Hirsch puts up a rough exterior but shows he’s a softie on the inside and Greer delivers a vulnerable Ana who at first tries to keep up the facade before eventually being honest with her daughter.

For those who’ve been faced with real world challenges, this story is unrealistic in many aspects and feels somewhat like a fairy tale, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility. Hart and Co. do a great job of convincing the viewer that it could  happen with the right attitude and when the right people come together. Despite my bit of cynicism, Hollywood Stargirl  still proved to be an enjoyable ride that I’m sure will be an even bigger hit with its target audience.  

I give Hollywood Stargirl 4 out of 5 fuzzy red earmuffs.

Hollywood Stargirl  premieres on Disney+ on June 3rd

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar
• Skip to footer

With Ashley And Company

Entertainment, Geek, and Travel Site

Hollywood Stargirl Movie Review: A Feel-Good Film About Living Your Dreams

May 31, 2022 By Ashley Leave a Comment

Hollywood Stargirl is a feel-good film that is funny, charming, and uplifting. Grace VanderWaal, Elijah Richardson, and Tyrel Jackson Williams have a friendship that is so joyful it is infectious. This is the kind of story that inspires its audience to have confidence in who they are and to live their dreams.

Hollywood Stargirl Movie Review

A followup to the original Stargirl , Hollywood Stargirl follows Stargirl Caraway (Grace VanderWaal) as she leaves behind the town she loves for Los Angeles. Her mother (Judy Greer) has a new job on a movie set so they must pack up everything and go to the city where dreamers go hoping for their big break. Ana promises her daughter that they will at least finish out the school year in the city. Stargirl immediately meets and connects with Evan (Elijah Richardson) and Tyrell (Tyrel Jackson Williams), the sons of her mother's landlord. Together they bring Tyrel's movie vision to life and help revive the dreams and hopes of everyone around them.

Hollywood Stargirl  has just the right dose of optimism, joy, and kindness that will leave audiences feeling uplifted when the credits roll. Grace VanderWaal once again fully embodies the confidence and sincerity that is Stargirl while Elijah Richardson, and Tyrel Jackson Williams are welcomed additions to the main cast. Their solid chemistry and genuine friendship are a joy to watch. Unlike the first film, director and co-writer Julia Hart is showing the world from Stargirl's point of view and it was absolutely the best move for this sequel. 

RELATED: Hollywood Stargirl Cast Interview: New Music, New Friends, & A lot of Fun

Jerry Spinelli's original work also spawned a sequel titled Love, Stargirl . However, Hollywood Stargirl is its own story, written by Hart and Jordan Horowitz. This proved to be a solid choice, as it allowed Hart and Horowitz to remain true to the character while putting her in a place where she could shine. The decision to tell this story from Stargirl's point of view was equally important, adding depth and light to all the emotional moments of the film.

Stargirl is a confident optimist. She tends to always look for the silver lining in all situations and is generally flexible when it comes to being constantly on the move with her mother. Her cheerfulness permeates the script, not only affecting those on screen but those watching from their homes. Life is a great adventure, and Stargirl is determined to keep that in mind as she navigates a new city and new friends. 

It is with that in mind that she teams up with Evan and Tyrel. The bonds of friendship seem to instantly snap into place, with none of the interactions between these three feeling forced. Watching them, it is easy to remember when everything felt new and exciting. That each fresh encounter could lead to anything, the world is just waiting to be explored. Brought together by need, they need a singer and a love interest for their “sizzle reel” and she needs an outlet and something to do, the three embark on a summer adventure that rekindles that feeling of anything is possible if you surround yourself with good people. 

There really is not a massive conflict to overcome in this movie which honestly is refreshing. The obstacles are more metaphorical minus the financial one, and are things the characters have placed in their own ways. Sometimes it is nice to come across issues that can be solved with a better mindset and not something that requires an almost unrealistic solution. 

VanderWaal once again lends her vocals to the soundtrack performing both covers and an original song, Figure It Out . That song will stay with audiences long after the film ends thanks not only to the music but also because of its message. Rounding out the cast are Uma Thurman who plays a no nonsense former star who finds her way back to the stage, albeit reluctantly. Greer plays Ana with a vulnerability and openness that makes you sympathize with her situation.

Hollywood Stargirl is a feel-good story about living your dreams and finding your path. The lack of a major conflict makes this film mostly upbeat and lighthearted. It is a nice break from everything going on in the world. Its message may seem fairytale-like at times, but at the end of the day Hart and Horowitz are telling you that just because your dreams don't look like what you thought they would, does not mean you aren't living them. At the end of the day, it's all about doing our best and living life to the fullest one moment at a time. 

Hollywood Stargirl streams on Disney+ beginning June 3. It is rated PG for some mild language.

Reader Interactions

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

My Favorites

Screen Rant

Hollywood stargirl.

103 minutes

Your changes have been saved

Email is sent

Email has already been sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

Reviews (0)

Have You Watched It?

Be the first to leave your review.

Your Rating

Grace vanderwaal, tyrel jackson williams, uma thurman, elijah richardson, judd hirsch, seasons (4).

Season 1 (2016)

Season 2 (2018), season 3 (2022), season 4 (2026), screenrant reviews, hollywood stargirl review: charming feel-good movie that meets expectations.

The film may feel somewhat tepid in places, and it meanders, but the overwhelming wholesomeness of the picture will make one embrace its simplicity.

Latest Reviews

Users reviews (125).

We want to hear from you! Share your opinions in the review below and remember to keep it respectful.

Your comment has not been saved

Latest Stories

10 best movies like hollywood stargirl, cast interview: hollywood stargirl, disney+: every new movie & tv show coming in june 2022, related titles.

eternal sunshine of the spotless mind

BABY REINDEER

• Account Settings
• The Disney Bundle
• Parks & Travel
• Walt Disney World
• Disney Cruise Line
• All Parks & Travel
• Movies Anywhere
• 20th Century Studios
• Accessories
• Disney News
• Disney on Broadway
• Disney on Ice
• Disney Live!
• Walt Disney World Resort
• Disneyland Resort
• Aulani - A Disney Resort and Spa
• Adventures by Disney
• Disney Vacation Club
• D23: The Official Disney Fan Club

Hollywood Stargirl

June 3, 2022

Drama, Romance

“Hollywood Stargirl” is a sequel to the 2020 Disney+ hit about free spirit Stargirl Caraway, a silver-voiced teenager whose simple acts of kindness work magic in the lives of others, that follows Stargirl’s journey out of Mica, Arizona and into a bigger world of music, dreams and possibilities. When her mother Ana is hired as the costume designer on a movie, they relocate to L.A., where Stargirl quickly becomes involved with an eclectic assortment of characters. They include aspiring filmmaking brothers Evan and Terrell; Mr. Mitchell, one of Stargirl’s neighbors; and Roxanne Martel, a musician Stargirl admires and encounters on her journey.

Rated: PG Runtime: 1h 45min Release Date: June 3, 2022

Directed By

Produced by.

• motionpictures.org
• filmratings.com

Inspire | Hollywood Stargirl

“I Like Your Singing” Clip | Hollywood Stargirl | Disney+

"A New Adventure" Featurette | Hollywood Stargirl | Disney+

Hollywood Stargirl | Official Trailer | Disney+

Related articles, news disney+ jun 21, stargirl takes her talents to hollywood in adventurous new sequel .

June 21, 2022

Hollywood Stargirl | First Look Photo

Explore More

Lady and the Tramp

Black Beauty

High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special

Once Upon a Snowman

Godmothered

The Real Right Stuff

The LEGO® Star Wars Holiday Special

A Celebration of the Music from Coco

Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made

The One and Only Ivan

Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe

Secret Society Of Second-Born Royals

*U.S. residents, 18+ only. Access content from each service separately. Location data required to watch certain content. Offer valid for eligible subscribers only. Subject to  Disney+ and ESPN+ Subscriber Agreement . For detailed information on billing and cancelation, please visit the Disney+ Help Center .

• Koffee Kult
• Amazon Music
• Movie Series
• Bonus Content
• InSession Film Awards
• Year-End Top 10 Lists
• Women InSession
• Chasing the Gold
• Extra Film Archive
• Latest Releases
• Classic Reviews
• Video Reviews
• Oscars Predictions
• Awards Analysis
• Retrospectives
• Monthly Previews

Director : Julia Hart

Writer : Julia Hart and Jordan Horowitz

Stars : Grace VanderWaal, Elijah Richardson, Judy Greer, Al Madrigal, Uma Thurman, and Judd Hirsch

Synopsis : Join Stargirl Caraway as she journeys out of Mica into a bigger world of music, dreams, and possibility.

Stargirl was a surprise hit for Disney+ since it was released during the first few days when COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic and stay-at-home orders took over the world. With everyone cooped up in their homes and trying to distract themselves from the gloom and doom that the pandemic brought to us, everyone watched Stargirl . But its critical reception was mixed, with some finding it awe-inspiring, and others (like me) who thought it was a slog to get through, barely touching upon the themes it would present. Disney still greenlit a sequel, and here we are with Hollywood Stargirl , two years into the COVID pandemic. Director Julia Hart’s films, Fast Color and I’m Your Woman , were both terrific, but the Stargirl pictures have been consistently dull. Sure, the second one is marginally better, but that doesn’t make it a worthwhile watch. 

The marginal difference is due to the talent the film brings to the screen is incredible. For instance, Judy Greer replaces Sara Arrington as Stargirl (Grace VanderWaal)’s mother from the first film. To be perfectly honest, the first movie was so forgettable that I legitimately thought Greer played her mother in that movie, and the film followed that up with them going to Los Angeles, as Ana (Greer) gets a new job as a costume designer for a big movie. But no, it’s a completely different cast for the sequel, with only VanderWaal returning as the film’s titular character, off on another adventure to L.A. in the hopes of meeting new, real friends in the process. She quickly does and is thwarted in the production of a sizzle reel with her new friend Evan (Elijah Richardson) and his brother Terrell (Tyrel Jackson Williams). 

Greer is terrific as Stargirl’s mother, bringing an important layer of emotional levity to the movie that we didn’t see in the first installment. One particularly heartbreaking scene near the end of the movie is a highlight for me and showcases why she took over the role since she is able to deftly balance many emotional spectrums inside that sequence. 

The film also adds Uma Thurman and Judd Hirsch to the mix, whose characters are more compelling than the main protagonist, even if their screen time is vastly limited. Thurman plays Roxanne Martel, a one-hit singer whose tape, Miracle Mile, changed Stargirl’s life. Of course, she beat-for-beat plays Bono’s character in Sing 2, one who’s reluctant to appear in public again, and spends her life in Iggy (Al Madrigal)’s bar, hoping she’ll hear the next great singer. And, well, the next great singer is Stargirl, Roxanne will become her mentor and you know the drill by now. Hirsch plays Mr. Mitchell, Stargirl’s cranky neighbor, who was once a film producer. It’s the closest the movie will get to a commentary on filmmaking, even if it keeps talking about films ad nauseam because Hirsch’s character is a relic of a bygone era where “pictures” were made on film. 

The movie likes to show lots of flashy elements of moviemaking (going so far as to shoot a La La Land -esque scene on an iPhone with a DJI Osmo Mobile 3 Steadicam), but says nothing of note on them, aside from the clichéd “movies are like dreams” or “whenever we watched movies we felt like we could plow through anything” lines. As much as Hollywood Stargirl wants to show the magic of filmmaking, how shooting on your phone can lead to breaking out in Hollywood and becoming the director of a million-dollar project, it barely scratches the surface of why the characters want to make a movie so bad. “We’ve always wanted to make movies” is the most surface-level, and boring, character motivation to bring to the table. 

And then it shoehorns in a commentary on toxic filmmakers and set conditions, but it gets dropped halfway through the movie as if that entire arc didn’t happen, even though Ana keeps complaining about her director being a manipulative tool, and the works. It’s only when Hirsch reminds Stargirl how motion pictures were once made, with a Bolex 16mm camera, that the movie says something meaningful about the art of moviemaking, and the endless creativity making a movie can bring to someone longing for meaning in their life. But the rest of the movie is as dull as the first one, with half-baked commentaries plaguing most of the story. Uma Thurman’s character is a cliché, but she’s performed so well that you’d love to see more of her arc, instead of the movie trying to figure out which platitude to talk about and drop two scenes later, never hearing about it again. 

Let’s be honest: no one asked for Hollywood Stargirl . The first film had very little emotional attachment and depth to hold the audience’s interest, and the same can be said for the sequel, even if the acting talents are much better this time around than in the first movie. Every time it has the opportunity to say something meaningful about the themes it presents, it never does and almost forgets about them as the next scene rolls along. Even if Uma Thurman and Judd Hirsch are great additions to the cast and make the most of their limited screen time, I feel that the film has wasted their talents when they could’ve been integral parts of Stargirl’s new adventure. It’s criminal to have two incredible actors giving their all, but underusing them this much. It’s a good thing I’ll likely forget about it after writing this, hoping that there won’t be a third one and that Stargirl’s cinematic journey ends in Hollywood…

Similar Articles

Movie review (tiff 2024): ‘sweet angel baby’ delves past the intimate, intervew: asmae el moudir, director of ‘the mother of all lies’.

MOST POPULAR

Movie review (venice 2024): ‘pavements’ hands out deserved flowers.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

• Upcoming Movies and TV shows
• Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
• Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

• About Rotten Tomatoes®
• Login/signup

Movies in theaters

• Opening This Week
• Top Box Office
• Coming Soon to Theaters
• Certified Fresh Movies

Movies at Home

• Fandango at Home
• Prime Video
• Most Popular Streaming Movies
• What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

• 78% Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Link to Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
• 95% Rebel Ridge Link to Rebel Ridge
• 96% Red Rooms Link to Red Rooms

New TV Tonight

• 83% How to Die Alone: Season 1
• 59% Emily in Paris: Season 4
• 20% Three Women: Season 1
• -- Universal Basic Guys: Season 1
• -- My Brilliant Friend: Story of the Lost Child: Season 4
• -- The Old Man: Season 2
• -- Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy: Season 1
• -- The Circle: Season 7
• -- Jack Whitehall: Fatherhood with My Father: Season 1
• -- In Vogue: The 90s: Season 1

Most Popular TV on RT

• 61% The Perfect Couple: Season 1
• 77% Kaos: Season 1
• 85% The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: Season 2
• 100% Dark Winds: Season 2
• 100% Slow Horses: Season 4
• 97% English Teacher: Season 1
• 95% Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist: Season 1
• 94% Only Murders in the Building: Season 4
• 93% Bad Monkey: Season 1
• Best TV Shows
• Most Popular TV

Certified fresh pick

• 95% Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist Link to Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist
• All-Time Lists
• Binge Guide
• Comics on TV
• Five Favorite Films
• Video Interviews
• Weekend Box Office
• Weekly Ketchup
• What to Watch

Best Horror Movies of 2024 Ranked – New Scary Movies to Watch

Toronto Film Festival 2024: Movie Scorecard

What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming

Awards Tour

Pachinko ‘s Lee Min-ho Spills Season 2 Secrets

Movie Re-Release Calendar 2024: Your Guide to Movies Back In Theaters

• Trending on RT
• Best Horror Movies
• Top 10 Box Office
• Toronto Film Festival
• Free Movies on YouTube

The Last Showgirl Reviews

When Curtis walks onto a table in the middle of a casino and starts dancing to Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” throwing her job away as visitors barely notice, you know there is something special here. You just wish there was more of it

Full Review | Original Score: B- | Sep 11, 2024

She comes with every nepo-baby advantage, but The Last Showgirl proves that Gia Coppola has a true artist's eye and her own rich, distinctive style.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Sep 11, 2024

If the breathy Marilyn voice and constant, nervous verbal diarrhea wear thin at times, Anderson’s transformative performance is undeniably affecting...

Full Review | Sep 10, 2024

From its uniquely female lens, the film captures the gradual acceptance of a fading spotlight with a graceful authenticity that really hits home.

The Last Showgirl should have been the perfect union of subject and subject matter, something truly wrenching or revelatory, but there’s little here beyond the attention-grabbing hook and what amounts to stunt casting.

Pamela Anderson definitely deserves more respect in her field, especially after everything she’s been through, and she is no doubt fighting for it here as she gives the best performance of her career.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Sep 10, 2024

Anderson gives a vulnerable, spirited performance that never loses its sparkle. She understands her character, from Shelly’s steadfast principles to her intense frustrations with an increasingly ageist and sexist industry.

Full Review | Original Score: 8/10 | Sep 10, 2024

A triumphant proclamation that no matter how faded your sequins or dull your rhinestones, no one can take away or diminish a loving heart, particularly when one has the strength to turn it inwards.

Full Review | Original Score: A | Sep 9, 2024

If the mother-daughter stuff is derivative, it’s not manipulative; shot in grainy, sun-saturated handheld, with lens flare blowing out the sandy desert hues, it’s dreamy and low-key to a fault...

Full Review | Sep 9, 2024

[The Last Showgirl] falls a bit short, but Anderson delivers.

Anderson is the reason to watch “The Last Showgirl.” Her breathy and high-pitched performance is a daring addition to the Vegas-set movies of yesteryear.

Pamela Anderson lends a real humanity and glowing optimism to Shelley.

The Last Showgirl delivers a superb launching pad for an actress in a new era of her career.

Full Review | Original Score: 8/10 | Sep 8, 2024

The final word must go to the director – in an unusually crowded field, she has released the best Coppola film of the past 13 months.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Sep 8, 2024

“The Last Showgirl” is a film about beauty and truth and love. It broke my heart as much as it uplifted it.

Full Review | Sep 8, 2024

The Last Showgirl is an unflinching character study with an exciting lead performance from Pamela Anderson, gorgeous cinematography, and perfect soundtrack choices.

Full Review | Original Score: B | Sep 8, 2024

Anderson sinks her teeth into Coppola’s creation, showcasing immense vulnerability, whilst maintaining a sense of camp likeability that has so often linked it herself to her career.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Sep 8, 2024

A forgettable, empty trifle at just 85 minutes, failing to give us enough of anything and certainly, sadly, failing to prove Anderson’s mettle as a dramatic actor.

Full Review | Original Score: 1/5 | Sep 7, 2024

A shallow and slender tale of lousy dreams, worse decisions, and painful regrets, all of it predicated on a lead turn that’s too one-note to wow.

Full Review | Sep 7, 2024

Coppola is less interested in the glittering lights of the city than in letting the camera stay on Anderson’s face––a mix of heart-tugging optimism and deep pain.

Full Review | Original Score: B | Sep 7, 2024

The Definitive Voice of Entertainment News

Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter

site categories

‘the last showgirl’ review: pamela anderson mines pathos as an abruptly unanchored las vegas performer in gia coppola’s mood piece.

Jamie Lee Curtis and Kiernan Shipka also star in this peek behind the sequins, feathers and neon at the lives of women once their dreams dissolve.

By David Rooney

David Rooney

Chief Film Critic

• Share on Facebook
• Share to Flipboard
• Send an Email
• Show additional share options
• Share on LinkedIn
• Share on Pinterest
• Share on Reddit
• Share on Tumblr
• Share on Whats App
• Print the Article
• Post a Comment

Related Stories

Tiff: paul anka sings "my way" at toronto doc premiere dinner, tiff: peta activist disrupts pharrell williams biopic premiere in toronto, the last showgirl.

First seen rolling up for a dance audition in a jaunty cap whose crystal beading seems a calculated bid to draw attention away from her age, Shelly is a 30-year veteran of a spangly revue called Le Razzle Dazzle , the last survivor on the Vegas Strip of a yesteryear entertainment quaintly described as a “tits and feathers show.” But that steady job is about to be yanked out from under her as the revue goes the way of the dinosaur, to be replaced by a sexy burlesque circus.

Even though she’s been shuffled to the back of the stage, surrounded by dancers decades younger, Shelly’s identity has remained inextricably intertwined with the show. She goes into a tailspin when stage manager Eddie ( Dave Bautista ), with whom she has a personal history, drops the bombshell that they are closing in two weeks.

Even more dismissive is Shelly’s college-age daughter Hannah (Billie Lourd). She finally accepts her mother’s invitation to see the revue in its closing days, calling it lame trash and dismantling Shelly’s delusional claims of historical significance by belittling it as “a nudie show.”

It’s a sign of how deep Shelly’s personal investment in Le Razzle Dazzle runs that she storms out of her dressing room and risks landing back at square one in her efforts to mend fences with Hannah, who resents her mother’s choice to parade around in rhinestones every night instead of being a stable presence in her daughter’s life.

A different perspective on women aging out of work for which “sexy and young” are the chief requirements comes from Shelly’s old friend Annette ( Jamie Lee Curtis ), a former showgirl now serving cocktails on the casino floor and losing shifts to fresher faces. Annette has seen it all, providing loud, world-weary commentary while sucking down margaritas. But when she, like Jodie, turns to Shelly for help, the latter is too caught up in her existential crisis to have time for them.

Both Annette as a character and Curtis’ pantomime take on her jolt us out of a movie Coppola has clearly conceived as a soulful, sensitive alternative to gaudy screen depictions of similar milieus, like Showgirls and Burlesque . Even the gutsiness of a staff locker room scene in which Curtis refuses to conceal what a near-naked 65-year-old body looks like makes the actress’ no-vanity performance into its own kind of vanity gimmick.

The movie is on steadier ground when it stays close to Shelly, inevitably inching into meta territory as it finds the overlap between the showgirl’s glory days fading into obsolescence and Anderson’s transition of late away from the Baywatch babe to the makeup-free candor of a late-50s woman unwilling to be a slave to unrealistic standards for female beauty.

If the breathy Marilyn voice and constant, nervous verbal diarrhea wear thin at times, Anderson’s transformative performance is undeniably affecting, offering illuminating insights into both the character and the actress playing her, who has had to struggle to be taken seriously. This role should mark a turning point on that front.

Coppola’s cousin Jason Schwartzman makes a brief appearance as a director pushed to brutal honesty when Shelly gets hysterical, demanding to know why her audition (to Pat Benatar’s “Shadows of the Night”) was “not what we’re looking for.”

Even if The Last Showgirl feels slender overall, more consistently attentive to aesthetics and atmosphere than psychological profundity, there’s moving empathy in its portrait of Shelly and women like her, their sense of self crumbling as they become cruelly devalued.

Full credits

Thr newsletters.

Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day

More from The Hollywood Reporter

Hugh grant on why he has turned down starring in some big-budget studio films, ‘beetlejuice beetlejuice’ writers break down those two spectacular needle drops, toronto: daniel craig and nicole kidman take big swings in, are serious contenders for ‘queer’ and ‘babygirl’, tim blake nelson on playing an aging boxer in ‘bang bang,’ marvel and why he loves oldenburg, ‘speak no evil’ star mackenzie davis breaks down the film’s ‘halt and catch fire’ reunion, judd apatow to direct coke-pepsi rivalry movie ‘cola wars’ from steven spielberg and sony.