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My Girl
1991 103 min United States of America PG 6+
★6.9
Comedy, Drama
Director: Howard Zieff
Trailers
Description
Vada Sultenfuss is obsessed with death. Her mother is dead, and her father runs a funeral parlor. She is also in love with her English teacher, and joins a poetry class over the summer just to impress him. Thomas J., her best friend, is "allergic to everything", and sticks with Vada despite her hangups. When Vada's father hires Shelly, and begins to fall for her, things take a turn to the worse...
Budget:
$17M
US Gross:
$59.49M
Worldwide:
$59.49M
Starring
Anna Chlumsky
Actor
Macaulay Culkin
Actor
Dan Aykroyd
Actor
Awards
MTV Movie & TV Awards 1992
— Best Kiss
MTV Movie & TV Awards 1992
— Breakthrough of the Year
MTV Movie & TV Awards 1992
— Best On-Screen Duo
Key opinion
My Girl is widely regarded as a poignant and emotionally resonant coming-of-age drama that masterfully balances childhood innocence with the harsh reality of loss. While the majority of viewers find the film's tender tone and performances deeply moving, a minority of critics argue that its sentimental approach feels predictable or conventional.
| Acting | The child performances from Anna Chlumsky and Macaulay Culkin provide a sincere and authentic heart to the story. | |
| Production | The film succeeds in creating a grounded, nostalgic atmosphere that effectively captures the bittersweet transition from childhood to maturity. | |
| Theme | The narrative expertly navigates the heavy themes of grief and mortality through the innocent perspective of a child, avoiding excessive manipulation. | |
| Pacing | The pacing is viewed as either a soothing, contemplative journey into childhood or as a dull and predictable melodrama, depending on the viewer's patience. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is praised by most for its emotional honesty, though some critics find its structure to be formulaic and lacking in novelty. |