Hollywood Stargirl is perfectly charming in every way. Grace VanderWaal delivers an incredible performance, showing off those vocal chords once again.
It is quite rare that a sequel to a movie is better than the first one, but Hollywood Stargirl achieves exactly that. Grace VanderWall delivers and incredible performance and gives fans a much more mature Stargirl than they are used to. The supporting cast shines, but it is Stargirl herself that steals the show. She has found her home finally, and she will do anything to keep it.
The movie starts out with Stargirl and her mother Ana (Judy Greer) moving to sunny Los Angeles. Stargirl is used to moving around but for once she wishes they would stay put. Ana assures her they will be living there for at least a year, as she has taken a position as a costume designer on a movie set. This job causes long hours, and Stargirl is often left alone to venture around LA by herself.
It isn’t long before Stargirl finds a good friend in the landlord’s son Evan (Elijah Richardson), who is making his own movie with his brother Terrell (Tyrel Jackson Williams). After hearing her beautiful voice, they want her to be a part of the film.
What follows is a charming story about friendship, love, confidence, and finding happiness. Stargirl has matured since the last time we have seen her, and her selflessness has evolved into a bit more selfishness. Not in a bratty way, but in a way that allows Stargirl to stand up for herself, and for her wants and needs. She has rushes of emotion that consume every fiber of her being. At other times, Stargirl is her bubbly, infectiously happy self, that spreads cheer wherever she goes.
It is beautiful to see her come into her own in this film, and to be able to relate to her and connect with her in many ways. Her grumpy downstairs neighbor, Mr. Mitchell, is played by the talented Judd Hirsch, and their relationship brings a lot of the humor, but also some of the most heartwarming moments. This is a movie that you just can’t help but smile at.
One of the biggest complaints about the first movie is that her character didn’t get much of a story arc, and it almost felt like she was there just to propel Leo’s story forward. Hollywood Stargirl brilliantly addresses this during a conversation she has with Evan about his movie script, and later about her relationship with Leo.
Throughout Hollywood Stargirl, she touches many lives. She helps them gain confidence, find their happiness, and grow as people. However, she also learns a lot about herself. She is unafraid to put her foot down and express her feelings, even it could upset the person she is talking to. She is unapologetically herself, and while there are certainly important supporting characters, this movie is hers.
One such life that she touches is that of Roxanne Martel (Uma Thurman). Stargirl instantly recognizes her from across a crowded bar as one of her favorite singers. Roxanne had released one album, years ago, but then never wrote again. The two form a bond over Shirley Temples and once again, Stargirl sticks to her guns as best as she can. She is honest, inquisitive, and polite. Really, she is perfectly herself.
In an effort to avoid spoilers, this review won’t go into too much depth, but VanderWaal and Thurman have an incredible chemistry on screen — particularly in the final moments of the film.
Stargirl is the star of this movie, and there is no denying it. It follows her new life in LA. Making a movie with her friends, her interactions with downstairs neighbor, and her conversations with her mother. Where supporting actors had more of a role in the previous film, Stargirl is the stand out here.
The story itself has a clear arc. We get to see her spend time with her new friends, and watch as their relationship grow. While the brothers are a nice addition to the cast, and they do impress at times, they are very clearly taking a backseat to Stargirl.
The movie comes together nicely and includes several musical numbers that allow VanderWaal to showcase her talents. In the first film fans are used to seeing her with her ukulele, but not in Hollywood Stargirl. This is almost to symbolize that she has stepped out of her comfort zone, but is completely owning it. She doesn’t need to hide behind that anymore, and she allows her vocals to steal the show.
While it is a bit on the predictable side, it is still perfectly charming. Viewers will find it easy to be sucked into this movie for an hour and forty-five minutes — it is almost impossible not to. For those who didn’t love the first movie, we urge you to try this one. Stargirl has grown. She is more mature and gets that arc she so deserves. This is one of the rare times that a sequel is better than the original.
Grace VanderWaal shows the world what she is capable of in Hollywood Stargirl. The way she plays Stargirl gives her a happy go lucky attitude that is captivating and catching. The majority of viewers will find themselves smiling, laughing, and maybe even shedding a tear or two as Stargirl leaves her mark on LA.
Rating: 4 out of 5
NEXT: Stargirl Proves The Importance Of Being True To Yourself
About Hollywood Stargirl
Disney’s Hollywood Stargirl is a sequel to the 2020 Disney+ film about free spirit Stargirl Caraway (Grace VanderWaal), a silver-voiced teenager whose simple acts of kindness work magic in the lives of others. The upcoming film follows Stargirl’s journey out of Mica, Arizona and into a bigger world of music, dreams and possibilities.
When her mother Ana (Judy Greer) is hired as the costume designer on a movie, they relocate to L.A., where Stargirl quickly becomes involved with an eclectic assortment of characters. They include aspiring filmmaking brothers Evan (Elijah Richardson) and Terrell (Tyrel Jackson Williams); Mr. Mitchell (Judd Hirsch), one of Stargirl’s neighbors; and Roxanne Martel (Uma Thurman), a musician Stargirl admires and encounters on her journey.
Returning as Stargirl, VanderWaal performs the original song “Figure It Out” she wrote for the film. Julia Hart returns to direct. Hart & Jordan Horowitz wrote the original script, based on the original character from Jerry Spinelli’s best-selling book Stargirl. Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, p.g.a. (“The Maze Runner” trilogy), Lee Stollman, p.g.a.(“All Together Now”) and Jordan Horowitz, p.g.a. (“La La Land”) are the producers, with Kristin Hahn, Nathan Kelly and Jerry Spinelli serving as executive producers.
Hollywood Stargirl comes exclusively to Disney+ on June 3rd.
