When Jordan was 13, being bullied made her determined to be rich and successful and bully others instead. Accordingly, she is now a deeply unpleasant adult. So, when she is magically transformed back into a 13-year old, she has some lessons to learn which she didn't learn the first time round.
First-billed Regina Hall, as adult Jordan, is in the movie long enough to establish what a bitch she is before disappearing until the very end. Most of the film is a two-hander between Issa Rae, as Jordan's long-suffering PA April, and 13-year old Marsai Martin as 13-year old Jordan, and also 30-year old Jordan in a 13-year old body.
First things first. Miss Martin is phenomenal. Kids don't have adult body language and they don't have an adult's assurance which underlies how adults hold themselves in everything they say and do. But Miss Martin does. And although both conflict and humour lie in the notion of a child being in an adult's body, you never think that this is a child acting an adult. This IS an adult.
Otherwise this is a pretty routine age reversal comedy. It's amusing without being hilarious, the plot is largely predictable, there is no bad language of any consequence, and it is broadly likeable. My one serious criticism is that there is no real comeuppance for the teen bitches who make Jordan's life miserable at school, both times.
But the film isn't bad, and Marsai Martin (who also, at 13(!) co-produced) is phenomenal.
First-billed Regina Hall, as adult Jordan, is in the movie long enough to establish what a bitch she is before disappearing until the very end. Most of the film is a two-hander between Issa Rae, as Jordan's long-suffering PA April, and 13-year old Marsai Martin as 13-year old Jordan, and also 30-year old Jordan in a 13-year old body.
First things first. Miss Martin is phenomenal. Kids don't have adult body language and they don't have an adult's assurance which underlies how adults hold themselves in everything they say and do. But Miss Martin does. And although both conflict and humour lie in the notion of a child being in an adult's body, you never think that this is a child acting an adult. This IS an adult.
Otherwise this is a pretty routine age reversal comedy. It's amusing without being hilarious, the plot is largely predictable, there is no bad language of any consequence, and it is broadly likeable. My one serious criticism is that there is no real comeuppance for the teen bitches who make Jordan's life miserable at school, both times.
But the film isn't bad, and Marsai Martin (who also, at 13(!) co-produced) is phenomenal.