Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Gritty, uneven coming-of-age drama has drugs, sex, violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
A Girl Like Grace
What's the Story?
A GIRL LIKE GRACE follows the story of 17-year-old Grace (Ryan Destiny), whose single mom, Lisa (Garcelle Beauvais), seems to care more about dating than being maternal. Grace, who lives in small-town Mississippi, is still reeling from the suicide of her best friend, Andrea (Paige Hurd), whom audiences meet in flashbacks. Grace gravitates toward Andrea's older sister, Share (Meagan Good). But as kind as Share is to Grace, she also introduces the younger girl to an edgy world of men and drugs. Meanwhile, at school, Grace must deal with a group of mean girls led by Mary (Raven-Symoné) and a former best male friend, Jason (Lil' Romeo), who doesn't understand why Grace is now so distant.
Is It Any Good?
A couple of decent performances can't save this heavy-handed coming-of-age story; it's miscast and tries too hard to push the envelope while falling short of being truly memorable or relevant. Destiny does a fine job playing Grace, who's still grieving and processing the death of her best friend. But Beauvais overplays her role to an almost campy degree, and Raven-Symoné is far too old to play a high-school mean girl. And Good, while a talented actress, looks old enough to be Destiny's mother, rather a friend's older sister.
With A Girl Like Grace, director Ty Hodges clearly hoped to make a movie as impactful as Thirteen or Precious, but the tone, screenplay, and acting don't work cohesively enough to give the film that kind of heft. Yes, it's "gritty," and there are several disturbing scenes that will make parents cringe, but that's not what makes for a superb coming-of-age story. At the very least, the movie should prompt many conversations about everything from bullying and self-harm to substance use and parental abuse.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the amount of substance abuse in A Girl Like Grace. Is it glamorized? Are there realistic consequences? Why is that important?
How is teen sexuality portrayed? Is it healthy? Are there consequences for Grace's risky behavior?
What is the role of violence in the movie? Is it necessary to Grace's story?
How does the movie address bullying? Does it feel realistic?
Do you consider any of the characters role models? Why or why not?
Movie Details
- In theaters : June 12, 2015
- On DVD or streaming : December 2, 2016
- Cast : Meagan Good , Raven Symone , Garcelle Beauvais , Ryan Destiny
- Director : Ty Hodges
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s) , Multiracial Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : GVN Releasing
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Friendship , School ( High School )
- Run time : 94 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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