This feature from IFC Films debuts “on demand” on various cable and digital platforms Friday, May 8th.
When you’ve been watching movies for your entire life, it’s rare to see something that really stands out as unique and completely fresh. That’s especially true with well-wore genres like the coming-of-age picture. Films dealing with the struggles of growing up and finding your way in the world are so commonplace that few truly make a lasting impact. The latest attempt is the UK production How to Build a Girl. It follows a young woman striving to become a famous writer and taking an unusual route to do so. The positive message is admirable and the film does have a few effective moments, but features overly familiar story elements that viewers will recognize from stronger efforts.
Johanna (Beanie Feldstein) is a square and nerdy 16-year-old student in Wolverhampton, England convinced she will eventually by a writer composing powerful, life-changing works. At home, she spends her time conversing with tacked up pictures of inspirational historical figures (played by Gemma Arterton, Lily Allen, Michael Sheen). Early public readings of her work land with a thud, but she submits a contest piece to a music review publication that piques the interest of the staff. Actually, they think the entry is so odd that it might be a joke, but ultimately give her the opportunity to write concert reviews. She’s a quick study and eventually convinces them to let her interview musician John Kite (Alfie Allen), whom she immediately befriends. However, Johanna still struggles to fit in. Her pieces become biting and critical, earning her success but causing strife with just about everyone in her life.
Frankly, the story itself is similar to the phenomenal 2000 film Almost Famous, albeit with a gender swap for the lead character. That picture is an incredibly tough act to follow, but this title does offer a few chuckles early on as Johanna appears on a local TV state to read a bizarre piece of poetry written about a Border Collie. The story is set in the 1990s and the background music features some excellent tunes from the era as well as recreations of club shows that are fun to witness. The movie is also chock full of cameos, with everyone from Chris O’Dowd to Emma Thompson making memorable appearances.
Yet, despite all the great music there are elements that feel a bit jumbled and ineffective. Johanna’s quick transformation from innocent teen with imaginary friends to a muckraker who enjoys wild parties (with other writers and not the actual bands, oddly enough) feels sudden and jarring. The movie takes a more dramatic turn later as the lead acts out towards her eccentric family and addresses her longing for musician Kite. That’s a potentially interesting element, but the story delivers nothing unexpected. And while some of the jokes earn a laugh, far more of them land flat. Even the talking pictures of historical figures don’t have much to say that is illuminating or funny.
Perhaps the biggest complaint is that for a movie set around the world of music and bands in the 1990s, there aren’t a lot of personal interactions between the protagonist and famous onstage talent. With the exception of her time with Kite, she doesn’t spend much time backstage in the showbiz world. And besides some brief references early on at the office, Johanna and her cohorts at the music publication don’t end up discussing bands and albums nearly as much as they should for people who adore music.
There are a handful of enjoyable moments on display, but this feels more like a missed opportunity to delve into the world of music journalism. Sadly, it also doesn’t compare with Almost Famous, which depicts very specific, relatable and authentic moments from the perspective of a young writer out of his element. While moments in How to Build a Girl may strike a chord, there are design flaws, and pieces that should pull us into this story and world appear to be missing.