How to Build a Girl (2020)

Johanna is a hormone-filled teen with writerly ambitions. Though her family isn't blessed financially, it's clearly a home filled with love, even though Mom is obviously suffering some depression since the recent birth of her twins. When an opportunity to submit a sample to score a gig as a music critic pops up, Johanna seizes it and is soon writing reviews.

This is a lovely film that made me think that all girls between the ages of 12 and 18 could benefit from viewing it. Johanna rises to the top, messes up, hurts people, gets hurt, and yet can still choose her future. Like all of us. The movie also tackles the harsh truth that family can be both your support system and a disappointment -- people are so many things and we've got to give each other a break.

And man -- I've never found Alfie Allen to be anywhere near attractive, but this movie could've made 16-year-old me fall deeply in love. 

B+