Released in 1991 and directed by Howard Zieff, My Girl is a coming-of-age film that follows the life of an 11-year-old girl, Vada Sultenfuss. Zieff has also directed well-known movies such as The Dream Team and Unfaithfully Yours. The main actors in this film are Anna Chulumsky, who plays Vada; Dan Aykroyd, who plays Harry Sultenfuss–Vada’s father; Macaulay Culkin, who plays Thomas J–Vada’s best friend; and Jamie Lee Curtis, who plays Shelly Devoto. Rated PG, it can be streamed on Prime Video and Fandango.
The story, set in the summer of 1972, follows Vada’s life. Her father owns a funeral parlor, which causes Vada to struggle with the concept of death. Another thing that contributes to Vada’s struggles is her mother’s death two days after she was born, causing her to feel like her mother’s death is her fault. When Shelly (Jamie Lee Curtis) begins to work at the funeral parlor as the hair and makeup artist, she is quickly befriended by Vada; however, as Shelly and Harry begin to date, Vada’s attitude quickly changes.
Thomas J and Vada are seen throughout the movie trusting each other and gossiping about what’s going on in their (mostly Vada’s) life. Viewers often notice that Vada and Thomas J have small crushes on each other, although they might not admit it. This leads them to explore concepts that are new to them together, such as a first kiss and marriage.
The first time I saw this movie was in 2023 with my best friend. We were at my house, and she was spending the night. Together, we watched, laughed, and cried at all the special scenes in this movie. My favorite part was their more meaningful talks under the tree towards the end of the movie, especially how Thomas J is always loyal and supportive to Vada, no matter what she says to him.
The movie ends in a tragic, unexpected way. This causes tears every time I watch it, even though I already know what is coming. My heart breaks over and over again.
Overall, I would give this movie five out of five stars. Every bit of the plot adds to the movie, making the story more impactful on its viewers. Even the scenes that seem random in the moment click into place at the very end. This movie may mess with your emotions, but overall it is a refreshing watch that provides viewers a glimpse into the intricate minds of children who are slowly growing up.
The writing of the movie flows together and makes sense in the end. Every line that a character says ties together to create the plot. The more times that I watch this movie, the more I notice the small details, such as sentences that I wouldn’t even think twice about at the time. These sentences are actually the ones that provide the biggest clues to the ending. In my opinion, the writing and script of this movie is brilliant in the way it comes together.
I believe that the moral of this movie is to recognize your true friends and enjoy the time you have while you have it. Childhood goes by very quickly and it is important to enjoy your life and not worry about the big things. This movie pulled at my heart strings, but overall, it is a very important movie to watch because of the impact it leaves on viewers and their view on life. As said by author, Joanne Reed, “Life’s a journey, enjoy the ride.”
