Common Sense Media Review
By Kat Halstead
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Vibrant music biopic features drinking, drugs, language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Girl You Know It's True
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In GIRL YOU KNOW IT'S TRUE, performers Rob Pilatus (Tijan Njie) and Fab Morvan (Elan Ben Ali) are discovered by German music producer Frank Farian (Matthias Schweighöfer) and packaged up as 1980s pop duo Milli Vanilli. As their fame rises and they top the charts around the world, they come under more and more pressure to keep up the illusion behind their success—that they dance and lip sync, but never sing a word.
Is It Any Good?
The intense likability of the two lead characters—lovingly portrayed by Njie and Ben Ali—really carries this music biopic about infamous 1980s pop duo Milli Vanilli. Whether you know the outcome going in to the film or not, watching Girl You Know It's True, you can't help but root for the pair to succeed. There's a playful innocence to them that makes it easy for viewers to get wrapped up in the excitement exactly as they did. Moving from early scenes living in a friend's parents' garage to the fancy Los Angeles mansion that would set the stage for many a chaotic afterparty, even knowing the lie at the center of the project, it's difficult not to celebrate the duo's success. On the outskirts, there's plenty to say about how the industry works and the deceptions and illusions within, but at its heart, this still feels like an underdog story, despite the tragedy that would eventually unfold. For those familiar with the short-lived phenomenon, this will be ground trodden before, but here explored with more heart and passion than any documentary has so far mustered.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the ethics behind the way Milli Vanilli were presented to the media and fans in Girl You Know It's True. Many music artists portray a different character to the world, or use tools like autotune. Where do you think the line is in terms of what's acceptable? Who do you think bore the responsibility for Milli Vanilli's deception?
How were drinking, smoking, and drugs portrayed? Were there consequences? Did it glamorize them?
Rob and Fab showed teamwork and perseverance in going for their dream. How did these help them succeed? Why are they important character strengths? Can you think of times you've used either of these in your own life?
Discuss the strong language used in the movie. Did it seem necessary, or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
Does knowing the movie is based on real events impact how you feel about it? Why, or why not?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 9, 2024
- On DVD or streaming : August 9, 2024
- Cast : Tijan Njie , Elan Ben Ali , Matthias Schweighöfer
- Director : Simon Verhoeven
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Vertical Entertainment
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Friendship , Arts ( Music and Sing-Along )
- Character Strengths : Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time : 124 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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