Universal Films Film Review - Little

Little Jordan Sanders brilliantly portrayed by Marsai Martin was bullied in middle school. She believed in and trusted science taunted as she proved her point at the Windsor Middle school assembly. Her nemesis turned the tables putting her in the hospital and making her a laughing stock. Skip to present day grown up Jordan (Regina Hall) is the CEO of a tech firm with several covers of leading magazines under her belt. Her main goal is to protect herself by being mean to people before they can do the same to her first. Her staff wants to do their best for her but she rules based on fear. No one feels the brunt of her rage more than her assistant April Williams (Issa Rae) who gets an earful if Jordan's slippers are not in the right spot when she goes to get out of bed in the morning or if her coffee cup is a millimetre out of place on the desk in her office.

Enter Mikey Day as Connor, Jordan's biggest client who brings a new meaning to the phrase born with a silver spoon. He wants a new app and is giving Jordan's firm 48 hours to impress him or he is moving his business elsewhere. April has an idea but is afraid to pitch it. Jordan storms off but not before being extra cruel to everyone leading to a confrontation with a kid with a wand who vows to cut here down to size which occurs the next morning when Jordan awakes.

Director Tina Gordon who also shares writing credits with Tracey Oliver backed by the Girls Trip team deliver a story that is heavy on the comedy but has a solid spine anchoring the production. There are lessons to be learned here on how to treat people, the cliff fall of expecting the worse at all times and the weight of always being angry.

As noted above Marsai Martin is perfectly cast as young Jordan. In the prelude, she blindly trusts science to her detriment then when reintroduced after the spell, bonds with the misfits at school imploring them to be themselves even if it looks like they are being set up for ridicule. Regina Hall is strong as always as CEO Jordan Sanders she revels in the role of the bossy bully and tech celebrity. Loving to cut in line for her morning coffee or pulling out of the driveway in her limited edition sports car cutting off traffic knowing that the rules of the road do not apply to her. Issa Rae is the glue that links the two Jordan's' She grows in confidence as the narrative moves along. Gaining the fortitude to pitch her idea live willing to live with the results good or bad. Her comedic timing is excellent especially when dealing with overbearing boss issues, petulant child ones and even more so where there is sexual innuendo hanging in the air.

Little is a comedy that will appeal to both adults and children. It's a film that the whole family will enjoy and don't be surprised if the kids want to see it again soon after the credits role. There are some good lesson here on how to treat people and looking for the best in them. It's an enjoyable time at the movies that I can recommend.

*** Out of 4.

Little | Tina Gordon | U.S.A. | 2019 | 109 Minutes.

Tags: Middle School, Bullying, Science, Tech, Apps, Donuts, Pitch Meetings, School Assembly.