Tall Girl 2

With notably better production standards and a more assured performance from Ava Michelle, who has developed into the role of Jodi Kreyman with authentic on-screen presence, Tall Girl 2 develops upon its predecessor. As Jodi gets the lead role in her school's musical production of Bye Bye Birdie, the sequel deftly broadens its focus beyond the original's sole fixation with height to explore her issues with anxiety and imposter syndrome. The film deserves praise for trying to address mental health issues within its glossy framework, and the musical portions are surprisingly well-executed for a teen comedy on Netflix. The supporting cast, particularly Griffin Gluck's sweetly devoted Dunkleman and Anjelika Washington's scene-stealing Fareeda, provide welcome warmth and humor that elevate the material beyond its formulaic constraints. The costume design also shines, using Jodi's height as an asset for striking fashion moments rather than treating it as something to be minimized.

The sequel's inability to fully commit to its own development is where it falters, constantly turning to the manufactured drama and love triangle mechanics that seem more and more forced. Tommy Torres (Jan Luis Castellanos) is introduced as a new romantic interest, but there is little real connection between him and Jodi, and his main purpose is to postpone Dunkleman's inevitable resolution rather than raise any significant stakes. The tempo is hampered by recurring tensions; while Jodi's anxiety attacks are presented honestly at first, they soon turn into plot devices rather than being thoroughly examined. Additionally, while the protagonist's journey still ends with love validation and a spotlight moment, the movie's messages about self-acceptance seem false. While Tall Girl 2 represents modest improvement over its predecessor, it ultimately plays it too safe, delivering a sanitized, predictable teen fantasy that misses opportunities for genuine emotional resonance.

Staff:

Directed by: Emily Ting

Written by: Sam Wolfson

Based on: Characters by Sam Wolfson

Produced by: McG, Mary Viola, and Corey Marsh

Starring: Ava Michelle, Griffin Gluck, Sabrina Carpenter, Anjelika Washington, Luke Eisner, Clara Wilsey, Rico Paris, Jan Luis Castellanos, Angela Kinsey, and Steve Zahn

Cinematography: Shane Hurlbut

Edited by: Melissa Kent

Music by: Mateo Messina

Production company: Wonderland Sound and Vision

Distributed by: Netflix

Release date: February 11, 2022

Running time: 97 minutes