Film Review: Little Comes Big With Laughs And Wisdom
“We know who we are when we are kids. It’s the world that beats it out of us.” With that line, the hilariousness of Little was transformed into wisdom. It was not just another funny, heart-warming tale with a moral message. It was also an enlightening journey with a warning; do not let those that refused to love you make you become unloving.
Within the first 15 minutes of Little, Regina Hall has you rolling on the floor as Jordan Sanders. She is pure evil and entertainment. Hall goes IN as Jordan; obliterating everyone that comes in her path and making it understandable why people wish she gone. There is nothing lovable or loving to this character, and, thought we laugh as an audience, by all means, she is a nightmarish boss. Thus, from the beginning, you gravitate towards Issa Rae’s April, her awkward, and her sweet loyalty. She is a good person that will become a guide through Jordan’s Little magic.
Similar to Big, we do not need too much mystical explanation as to how a 38 year old woman wakes up 13. This film is so engulfing with humor and story that you simply want to watch and pray that Jordan becomes a better person, of which Marsai Martin as “Little Jordan” is magnificent. She feels like an adult in a child’s body, and is a Lucile Ball with her physical comedy. I was shocked by how talented and smart the 14 year old young lady is as an actress/ person. You never lose that Marsai Martin is as much Jordan Sanders as Regina Hall. They both connected their renditions of this character perfectly. While most are already enamored with her role as producer, Marsai’s portrayal as “Little Jordan” is humbling. She represents the damage that bullying can do in destroying a good person or, at least, the potential to become one.
What is so powerful about Marsai’s performance is that she makes Jordan terrified of being good. Written and directed by Tina Gordon, the film does well to set up that Jordan is not only a bully but a victim of one. Her childhood is brutalized and humiliated by others, and I cringed at being reminded how cruel kids can be. Children are truly tiny adults; never losing their humanity, for better or worse. Hence, JD McCrary’s Isaac, Thaila Tran’s Raina, and Tucker Meek’s Devon are also the “young stars” that ground the film with the heartbreak of being good kids treated poorly. It is their interactions, especially with Marsai’s Jordan, that makes the film a must-see for younger kids. They need to see that being bullied can be heart-breaking, but should never crush your spirit, of which Rae’s April is another emblem of this message.
The film flows perfectly in allowing Marsai’s “Little Jordan” to become the kid-friendly, moral story of the film, and Issa Rae’s April to punch through with intelligent, adult humor. Her comical, pop culture references and emanating kindness makes her exciting to watch on the screen. April’s journey as a young woman learning to speak up for herself while maintaining a friendliness and accessibility to others is so relatable. Unlike Jordan, April get bullied but refuses to become a bully, which is, exactly, why her friendship with Jordan is so powerful; good friends make you grow better. Moreover, you balance Rae’s charm her with the cosmic charisma of Marsai Martin, and this film absolutely is amazing. It is a light breeze, at nearly 2 hours, and makes you invested in witnessing how Jordan goes from feeling small as a bully to become great as a friend. Little Comes Out In Theaters On April 12.
