Spoiler Alert!
You know sometimes you have to draw the line between supporting a genuinely good film, and stunning for a film cause the folks in it look like you. In this case, the line was drawn hard and thick because Little, 2019 was a subpar film. And it’s hard to admit because it has two of my favourites (Issa and Marsai) but yikes. Like one of my mates always says, “nothing says equality like black people being allowed to make average and/or bad films”.
Directed by Tina Gordon, I was disappointed pretty early on in the film when adult Jordan Sanders, played by Regina Hall, walks into her office in the same style as seen on The Devil Wears Prada, 2006. She did Miranda dirty, I felt disrespected on Meryl Streep’s behalf. Heck the background song was almost the same as the one from The Devil Wears Prada. The let down here was that, if you’re going to copy, make an improved version, spoofs are so 2000 (when I realised Regina was also in the Scary Movies, I couldn’t move past her subpar acting here either… sigh). The scene was so cringe! In regards to character development for our boss babe — what the heck guys? I mean I get growing up to be a beast cause you were bullied etc etc. BUT this character literally held onto a grudge from when she was 13 till her 30s — seriously? Or was this another spinoff from 13 Going 30, 2004? It sure felt like it. I don’t even remember what being 13 was like and I’m not even 30 yet! A little realism would’ve gone a long way…
I think the fact that our beloved smarty pants Marsai Martin played young Jordan was the biggest reason why adult Jordan was so cringe. I mean we all know how intelligent Diane is from Black-ish, 2014 — since that was also carried through here — but you’d think adult Jordan’s character developed beyond the 13 year old self’s grievances with her less intellectual peers. But no, she had to be 13 again to learn (oh goodness 17 Again, 2009 — is there a film they didn’t copy?), and yet Regina’s acting was still poor. Disclaimer, I’m not hating on Ms Hall, she is simply not a good actress. She fooled us for a hot minute in Think Like a Man, 2012 (thanks Tim Story) but damn, is it too late to explore other career options? As for Ms Martin, probably the only good thing in the film. Sure there’s reminiscence of her Black-ish character, but she’s the only redeeming character carrying this film. So much so I didn’t want adult Jordan to come back. Yes, that much. I even enjoyed how she was able to balance being consciously an adult but in a child’s body. Low key triggering if you’re a black girl whose never been given a chance to be a child because of society imposing it’s ideas on you. Other than that, she nailed it! If she’s acting like this at her young age, I’m excited to watch her evolution.
Then there’s Issa Rae, starting to wonder if she can act or if her main talent is being Issa? Which I’m not mad at, I love me some Insecure, 2015 Issa Dee. So why bother calling her character April if all I’m getting is Issa? I would’ve jumped onto an Issa from a parallel Universe faster than the half-baked Issa performance that was April. I just, I just expected better, that’s why I’m salty. Also, how are you basically living in a loft but you’re an assistant? What kind of assisting are you doing to earn than much bank? Can we talk about how these films sell us dreams cause we all know you’re living in a tiny 1bed/ studio with a corner kitchenette or a cottage in someone’s backyard, if you’re working as an assistant. But hey, maybe Issa, I mean April, had a secret funder that the film neglected to give any screen time — OR maybe she’s a trust fund baby, from a parallel Universe where black people enjoy the fruits of generational financial liberation…
YES, I also acknowledge I might not have been the target audience for this film, but I oath there are animations meant for literal children that have left me a billion times more impressed than this — one I watched recently is Home, 2015, that was a vibe, kudos to Rihanna for slaying that voiceover. This though, this was a Little lazy film and I’m upset.
Have you watched this mess? Are we clapping hands because equality or did we still want better? I wanted better but that’s just me. Let me know your thoughts in the contact tab.