Combining coming-of-age stories with rock music is an easy mix, it seems – whether it’s Almost Famous, Dazed & Confused, or even The Perks of Being a Wallflower, the subgenre of young characters’ emotional growth fueled by a backdrop of rock and roll is one that always seems to stay relevant, regardless of the few that don’t stick. 20 years after the genre’s peak, Coky Giedroyc’s How to Build a Girl, adapted from Caitlin Moran’s novel of the same name, joins the list. While it is far from original, it’s a worthwhile watch because it shines a new light on the genre.
The film follows Johanna Morrigan (Beanie Feldstein), a British high school student in the 1990s who is the definition of “extra” and proud of it. At the start of the film, she operates under the mantra of never doing less when more is available – turning in 33 pages instead of the 5 required for essays, and having conversations with imaginary historical figures like Sylvia Plath (Lucy Punch) and Sigmund Freud (Michael Sheen) for guidance. Desperate to find creative outlets that could make her famous, help her family financially, and put her passion for writing into good use, she becomes a writer for a music magazine. Due to her “normal” appearance and lack of musical knowledge, she transforms into a new, outspoken, and confident persona: the redheaded, steampunk-dressed Dolly Wilde. She befriends punk singer John Kite (Alfie Allen) after interviewing him at the end of a concert, and as a result is in love with both the singer and with rock and roll, becoming even more dedicated to writing more. As Johanna’s new rock critic persona unfold, she becomes much more popular and is given a full-time position at the magazine, but at the cost of forgetting who she truly is – even if Dolly is her own creation.
The narrative is the biggest issue in the film. It’s not the best adaptation of the book, but it’s as good as it can get. The problem with both the film and the novel is that the story is as easy to predict as it can get. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but there are specific moments where I couldn’t help but talk about the similarities to other coming-of-age stories, reinforced by new cultural references that aren’t in the book. This kind of formula is tired and true with coming-of-age stories, and your first guess to the question “I wonder what happens next?” is probably going to be the right answer over the course of this film.
Thankfully, though, the cast and music are what make How to Build a Girl stand out. Feldstein is a wonderful main character – bringing the charisma and energy the role definitely deserves. While I enjoyed reading the book back when I did so in high school, Feldstein brings the role to life in the exact way I predicted her to, and the film certainly shows why Dolly Wilde should be the first of many stepping stones that propel her into a much bigger career that might even rival her brother’s. The rest of the ensemble cast is great, too – Alfie Allen plays his most fun role yet, nothing like the Game of Thrones character we all know and love him as. The sidekick roles from actors like Michael Sheen, Emma Thompson, Jameela Jamil, and Paddy Considine are pleasantly fun and add more to the film, even when their screen time is limited.
Overall, despite a fairly paint-by-numbers plot, How to Build a Girl makes up for a predictability with a great lead performance and a witty, lively script. It’s a coming-of-age story about music criticism that doesn’t hit the levels of Almost Famous or even High Fidelity but certainly makes a splash with the help of a great cast. It’s an enjoyable, well-made film that has enough to entertain anyone giving it a shot, especially if they prefer the coming-of-age story with a rock and roll twist. It offers enough of the familiar to let the fresh ideas stick out, making a choice to rent it a good idea to liven up a boring night. In the end, while I didn’t fall in love with everything the film gave me, How to Build a Girl is touching and interesting enough, and an has a great message about appreciating yourself that anyone can benefit from.
3.5/5 STARS