TheBlueHairedLawyer
I'm not saying older films are bad, I love them. I love My Bloody Valentine, which also came out in 1981, but there's a difference between a fictional horror film and a film where real issues and treatments are discussed. Methods to treat mental illnesses and/or addictions are far different today than they were ten, twenty, thirty years ago. This film also has the feeling of an incredibly typical Lifetime movie, and it follows a pattern: a girl has anorexia, she's committed to a treatment center that saves the day, and voilà, easy as that. I read the book, which is also rather outdated. The Best Little Girl in the World is more of a film to watch if you're interested in the differences between psychiatric treatment today and in past years, or to watch just for nostalgic value. They were originally going to cast Jodie Foster and I honestly think she would have done a much better acting job than Jennifer Jason Leigh. The film itself is pretty boring and the acting throughout is typical TV movie acting. Really the only example of a film about mental illness/addiction that is timeless is Go Ask Alice (1973). I don't really recommend this unless you want to pass the time.
Liz Anderson
Okay, first of all this movie is good, but dated. The music was awful and at times the songs they played that was popular back then is just so painful to listen to. There is one particular scene during the cheerleader tryouts where this one girl's cheer is so ridiculous you just have to laugh. It was a very good movie despite all of that though. Very dated as far as the handling and treatment of eating disorders though. It definitely has its campy moments but overall, the acting is great. It's far different from the book though. The family dynamic is totally different as is the type of residence they have. In the movie they live in a house, in the book it's an apartment. I really think the book is best, but for its time and all it's a pretty good movie. Also, they didn't use a body double for the skinny scenes. That was really J.J.L. She really lost all of that weight for the film.
Bolesroor
"The Best Little Girl In The World" is a made-for-TV movie dealing with anorexia/bulimia. While it does have that "After-School Special" feel, it features good performances from great actors. Charles Durning is excellent as always as Casey's angry, disinterested father, and Jennifer Jason Leigh really establishes herself here as a great actor. The downside to this movie? It's a bit melodramatic- for example, every time Casey stumbles from weakness a dozen horns blare from the soundtrack. And there are laughably funny moments, such as the New Year's Eve sequence, where Charles During tries to force-feed Casey peanut butter sandwiches until she gains weight. She winds up biting his hand like a snarling dog. Or when Casey takes off her robe to reveal her sickly-thin body, it's obviously a body double. But if you are looking for a movie that deals with this subject honestly and respectfully (as opposed to all those Lifetime movies in which a man is always at fault), "The Best Little Girl In The World" is worth tracking down.
jeff-150
Showing sparks of talent Jennifer Jason Leigh plays a depressed early eighties teen living with a super-controlling father and usual family of idiots. Very well done and very ahead of it's time even if the soundtrack is a little too REO Speedwagon.
AD
