Movies in Review: "Girl in Progress"

This movie may not be on a number of viewers radar. It had a limited release this weekend, and so far hasn't been receiving positive reviews. I went to see the film because I wanted to see how Eva Mendes would do as a lead, and I actually thought the trailer was cute enough.

Well no matter what critics say, I happened to be one of the one's who enjoyed it. Eva Mendes was great, but it was the young actress Cierra Ramirez who played her teenage daughter who stole the show. This young actress had a presence on screen that had you vested in her wish to have her mother take interest in her. It was a teenage coming of age story that had many of the same elements as others, but the young actors/actresses cast added their own quirkiness that made it interesting. The story fell a little short on the development of Mendes and her daughter's characters. It would have been nice to get a little more background on their situation. The movie opens with her daughter already at the point of no return with her mother's behavior. However, the lack of development doesn't ruin the movie for me. I was able to get an idea of what may have happened before the opening scene.

This movie is a tween chick flick. I felt strange seeing grown men in there watching this movie alone. This is a movie that would be great for a mother/daughter, or young girl and her friends. There is no need to rush out and buy a ticket. It's cute, but definitely Redbox value...C+