Parents' Guide to

Jessica Darling's It List

By Renee Longstreet, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Uneven junior high coming-of-age tale has comic stereotypes.

Movie NR 2016 79 minutes
Jessica Darling's It List Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

  • Jessica Darling's It List Movie Scene #1
  • Jessica Darling's It List Movie Scene #2
  • Jessica Darling's It List Movie Scene #3
  • Jessica Darling's It List Movie Scene #4

Community Reviews

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age 9+

Based on 8 parent reviews

Riley K.
Riley K. Parent of 8-year-old
September 22, 2017
age 12+

Ok...

Don't think appropriate for 11 yrs or younger. Talks about boyfriends etc...
1 person found this helpful.
Julie St-F
Julie St-F Parent of 9 and 12-year-old
August 13, 2017
age 9+

Predictable popularity

So, yes. Jessica Darling's It List is something we've all seen before. Nerdy 7th Grader feels pressured to be popular by her friends, her sister and her sort of awful mother. In the end, she of course learns that she will like her life, and the kinds of friends she makes better, if she just acts like herself. **Some Spoilers** The positives: the dialogue and some of the situations (the school mascot drama, the competing cheer teams) are going to be fresh enough to impress it's tween audience, and not completely make parents gag. Plus, I felt they were all pretty accurate depictions of both my own, and my daughter's junior high experience. For, what is the 7th Grade, if not a cheesy direct-to-film dramedy? I really liked how Jessica recognized that her and her best friend Bridget were growing apart, and that it wasn't worth forcing their friendship to stay together. I also liked that the plot did not involve a "take down" of the vapid, popularity obsessed Sara and Manda. I knew (and know - because I'm the mom of a 12 year old) girls who are that transparent about their need to be popular. And the truth is, they don't need a slapstick comedic comeupppance. They just need some time to grow up, and hopefully people who love them and remind them of their better qualities. Bonus points for a girl with engineering aspirations taking shop class. The Downsides: The plot resolves a little to quickly to be realistic. And, like I said, if you are out of junior high, it's pretty predictable. But if you are out of junior high, this film is not for you. To discuss: Jessica's mother and older sister put so much emphasis on her looks. Her mother never really apologizes in the film. We talked about why parents might be like that. But my daughter - who is kinda like Jessica - really felt that she would feel like I valued her less if I focussed more on her appearance.
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What's the Story?

Jessica Darling (Chloe East) is anxiously awaiting the first day of junior high school in JESSICA DARLING'S IT LIST. She only has one friend going to the same school, but luckily it's her best friend, Bridget (Emma Rayne Lyle). So when Jessica's beautiful, collegiate older sister Bethany (Blair Fowler) unexpectedly arrives to show her the ropes before school starts, Jessica is open, wide-eyed, and willing. Bethany hands her little sister a written "It List." On it is everything she'll need to meet the challenge. All Jessica has to do is follow four easy steps to achieve wonderful success in her new school: It's about clothes, the cheer team, a first boyfriend, and the "in" clique. Jessica's wary but game. Unfortunately, Jessica's journey isn't quite as simple as Bethany made it sound. Jessica's not really interested in clothes; she's certainly not interested in boys, doesn't even know who's in the "in clique," and has never done a "cheer" in her life. When the big day arrives, Jessica learns that fitting in is never easy. Amid assorted wannabe girls, unorthodox teachers, iffy moments with Bridget, and what she thinks are her own shortcomings, and armed with an It List that doesn't suit her at all, Jessica embarks on a very bumpy adventure.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (8):
Kids say (36):

Cheerful earnestness, a few solid performances, and a thoughtful message don't save this adaptation from predictability, amateurish caricatures, and overall uneven direction and production values. In attempting to keep the spirited tone of the book's first-person narrative intact while trying too hard to be quirky, it's hard to know whether the movie fell victim to the director's conceptual ideas or to the limitations of its actors and budget. Still, the appeal and honesty of both Chloe East's Jessica and Emma Rayne Lyle's Bridget, as well as the subject matter and message, may be enough for middle grade and tween girls.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about movies made from books. If you've already read the book, did the film capture the spirit and intent of the story? What did you like or not like about the adaptation? If you haven't read it, did this movie inspire you to check it out and/or read other Megan McCafferty books?

  • Think about the adults portrayed in this movie, most of whom were comic characters. Which, if any, felt real to you? Which, if any, would you have trusted with your confidences and gone to for help? Why?

  • How did the Jessica-Bridget friendship change over the course of this movie? What did they learn about each other? At the end of the movie, what clues did the filmmakers give you to tell you where their relationship was going?

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