Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

Where to Watch

Loading streaming options...

Screenwise Verdict

Look, I want to be kind here, but Tall Girl is the cinematic equivalent of cafeteria pizza—technically edible, but nobody's excited about it. The body-positivity message is genuinely good and needed, but it's delivered with all the finesse of a middle school health class PSA.

The real issue? Even kids didn't like it. A 23% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and 1.4/5 on Letterboxd tells you everything—the target demographic watched it and collectively shrugged. It's not offensive or harmful, just aggressively mediocre. The bullying scenes are realistic enough to sting, but the resolution is so paint-by-numbers that any meaningful lesson gets lost in rom-com clichés.

If your tween is begging to watch it because their friend mentioned it, fine—it's safe enough and might spark a decent conversation about self-acceptance. But there are so many better options for body-positivity messages (hello, Encanto) that actually have heart, humor, and rewatchability. This one's a Netflix scroll-past.

Age Fit

Best for ages 10-14 who can handle mild bullying content and are interested in teen social dynamics. Younger kids won't engage with the high school drama, and older teens will likely find it too simplistic and poorly executed to bother with.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

68

Positive messages about self-acceptance and body positivity, with supportive family dynamics and diverse friendships. However, the film includes realistic bullying scenes (teasing, physical confrontations including a punch and slap), mild profanity ('damn,' 'goddamn'), and some relationship drama that feels more soap-opera than genuinely healthy. The tone is earnest but occasionally melodramatic in ways that undercut the wholesome messaging.

Imaginative

35

Standard teen rom-com formula with no real creative spark. The premise—tall girl learns to love herself—is handled in the most predictable way possible. No visual creativity, no narrative risks, no invitation to think differently about anything. It's paint-by-numbers Netflix content that doesn't ask viewers to imagine, build, or explore anything beyond the well-worn hallways of generic high school movies.

Safe

72

Age-appropriate for the tween/teen audience with clear content boundaries: mild violence (punch, slap, knife-throwing scene played for comedy), brief teenage kissing, and occasional profanity. The bullying scenes are the main concern—realistic enough to potentially upset sensitive kids who've experienced similar treatment. No sexual content beyond flirtation, no gore, no surprise traumatic content. Common Sense Media rates it 12+, ACCM says PG with guidance for 8-12. Straightforward teen content without major red flags.

Enriching

42

The body-positivity message is well-intentioned but executed with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer. There's potential for conversations about self-acceptance and standing up to bullies, but the film undermines itself with shallow characterization and a resolution that feels more like 'getting the guy fixes everything' than genuine personal growth. Kids might take away some confidence-building ideas, but they're buried under rom-com clichés. Minimal cognitive challenge, predictable ethical lessons, limited emotional depth.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Body-positivity message about accepting yourself and not letting others define your worth
Shows supportive family relationships and loyal friendships that have each other's backs
Could spark conversations about bullying and self-confidence for tweens navigating similar social pressures
Diverse cast and representation of different friend groups

⚠

What to Watch For

Realistic bullying scenes (teasing, physical altercations) that might hit close to home for kids who've been picked on
Mild profanity scattered throughout ('damn,' 'goddamn')
The film sometimes undercuts its own message by suggesting romantic validation is the solution to insecurity
It's genuinely not very good—even the target audience gave it a 23% on Rotten Tomatoes, so manage expectations

Conversation Starters

"Jodi gets bullied for being tall. Have you ever felt like something about you made you stick out? How did you handle it?"
"The movie shows Jodi's friends supporting her in different ways. What makes a good friend when someone's going through a hard time?"
"Do you think Jodi's confidence came from inside herself or from other people? What's the difference?"
"Have you seen people get teased at school for how they look? What could you do if you saw that happening?"

Ask Anything

Get a personalized guide on any topic