How to Build a Girl

Last night I was so happy to be able to see another new release on the big screen!  This time it was How to Build a Girl and I loved it (apparently I really enjoy coming of age comedies featuring Beanie Feldstein because I also loved Lady Bird and Booksmart).  Sixteen-year-old Johanna Morrigan (Feldstein) is frustrated with her life in the suburbs with a father who has unrealistic dreams of being a rock star (Paddy Considine) and a mother (Sarah Solemani) suffering from postpartum depression after giving birth to twins late in life.  She dreams of being a writer and finds inspiration from the posters of literary and intellectual figures on her wall who speak to her.  She is desperate to escape so, even though she knows nothing about music, she enters a contest to become a rock critic for D&ME, a London newspaper, by submitting a review for the Annie soundtrack.  When she is given the chance to cover the Manic Street Preachers in Birmingham, she reinvents herself in the persona of Dolly Wilde (red hair, top hat, tailcoat, short shorts, fishnet stockings, and Doc Martens) and begins writing a few articles for the paper.  She is eventually given the opportunity to interview John Kite (Alfie Allen) in Dublin.  He finds her charming so he spends the day with her, brings her on stage at his concert, and then opens up to her about the pain that inspired his songs.  She is infatuated with him and writes a gushing review which is rejected by D&ME as the work of a schoolgirl with a crush.  Realizing her mistake, she begins writing overly critical reviews and achieves some notoriety, becomes sexually promiscuous, and alienates her friends and family.  She ultimately realizes that she must be true to herself in order to succeed (with a great cameo by Emma Thompson as an another editor who hires her).  What I loved most about this movie is that, as with most characters played by Feldstein, I completely identified with the character of Johanna.  I mean, what chubby, socially awkward, well-read teenager with aspirations of being a writer doesn't fantasize about reinventing herself to interview a rock star? Feldstein gives a fantastic performance (even if her accent leaves a lot to be desired) that is amusing, poignant, and empowering.  I loved the scene where Johanna tells off a group of puerile male writers who have been making fun of her.  Allen is also great as a jaded rock star and I was impressed that he actually sings the song "Day Making Girl" (written especially for the movie by Guy Garvey from Elbow).  Speaking of the soundtrack, it is fantastic!  I had a great time watching this movie and I highly recommend it with the proviso that it is a bit explicit.

Note:  I loved the actors playing Johanna's heroes on the wall:  Michael Sheen as Sigmund Freud, Lucy Punch as Sylvia Plath, Sharon Horgan as Jo March, Gemma Arterton as Maria Von Trapp, Lily Allen as Elizabeth Taylor, Alexei Sayle as Karl Marx, Jameela Jamil as Cleopatra, Andi Oliver as Donna Summer, Mel Giedroyc as Charlotte Bronte, Sue Perkins as Emily Bronte, and Patsy Ferran as Bjork.  So much fun!