I knew nothing about this movie going into it. It's a very smug film that continuously pats itself on the back for being so smug. There isn't really anything unique or original about this 'coming of age' story - sure it has bright colors and drops some fuzzy cool cultural references (ooh Happy Mondays...Manic Street Preachers.. what year is this supposed to be?) but all of its charm is superficial. It is predictable, poorly paced, and the main character is frustratingly unlikeable. Her narcissism seems to always end up being rewarded even when things go awry for her. Paddy Considine is super enthusiastic as her father, but even his character still comes off as a total brat. Every character is a brat, there's no room for development or real redemption in the formula. I struggled to make it through this film, it is so unapologetically tone deaf... Maybe, just maybe, it's barely worth watching if only you can convince yourself that every single character is an extension of the author's completely self-absorbed persona, like a teenage music critic fever dream Fight Club but without the flair, ideologies, or big reveal.
Review of How to Build a Girl
