The Best Little Girl in the World (1981 TV Movie) User Reviews

good tv movie with an early Jennifer Jason Lee-why only 3 comments?

[triple8 · 7/10 · 21 April 2004]

Wow-I'm really surprised this movie didn't make more of a mark. Jennifer jason lee is absolutely great here playing a young girl who develops anorexia. It's one of the best roles I've ever seen, I don't care if its a tv movie! The whole cast in general was great in this.

The only negative isn't really a negative, it's just a very tough movie to watch in spots. Well it would be, you can't make a movie about this subject and expect it not to be! The pluses far outweigh the negatives and if one is interested in the subject matter or a fan of Lee's this would be very definetly a good choice to view.It was actualy one of the first things I saw Lee in and helped make me a fan of hers. The movie also deals with a very tough subject matter in a realistic wellacted way.I think they could have got a better title but otherwise there's nothing negative to say about this movie at all.

The movie that taught me how to be anorexic

[cpjcwkn · 7/10 · 4 March 2022]

Funny, I didn't remember the name of this movie. Only that JJL was the girl who showed me that world. I spent 25 years trying to be free of it....finally, finally!! I know it was supposed to be a cautionary tale but....not for me.

Saw This While I Myself Was Anorexic

[laurnor-96816 · 7/10 · 15 May 2023]

I watched this movie when it premiered on TV, in the spring of 1981. At the time, I was 16 and actually in the throes of anorexia, although I did NOT get as thin as JJL did for this role. Ironically (or maybe not-so-ironically, since denial is a BIG part of this eating disorder), I did not see myself as anorexic at all; I just considered myself to have gotten fashionably thin. So my reaction to the movie was to think that "Casey" (played by JJL) must be absolutely insane! And I didn't relate to her at all; I basically just found the movie to be entertaining.

My parents, who watched the movie with me, immediately started saying how much I was like Casey! I didn't like hearing that at all, although in hindsight I can certainly see why they reacted that way. They were, after all, quite upset and worried about my eating (or lack thereof).

When I happened to watch the movie again, about ten years later, I didn't like it as much. As another reviewer pointed out, the music was awful, especially the opening song! And the scene where see bites her father's hand while he tries to force-feed her...Oof! That was more laughable than dramatic.

Anyone seeing this movie now would certainly find it to be very dated. But if you like eating disorder movies, this one might be worth a look.

Worth The Rental...

[Bolesroor · 28 August 2003]

"The Best Little Girl In The World" is a made-for-TV movie dealing with anorexia/bulimia. While it does have that "After-School Special" feel, it features good performances from great actors. Charles Durning is excellent as always as Casey's angry, disinterested father, and Jennifer Jason Leigh really establishes herself here as a great actor. The downside to this movie? It's a bit melodramatic- for example, every time Casey stumbles from weakness a dozen horns blare from the soundtrack. And there are laughably funny moments, such as the New Year's Eve sequence, where Charles During tries to force-feed Casey peanut butter sandwiches until she gains weight. She winds up biting his hand like a snarling dog. Or when Casey takes off her robe to reveal her sickly-thin body, it's obviously a body double. But if you are looking for a movie that deals with this subject honestly and respectfully (as opposed to all those Lifetime movies in which a man is always at fault), "The Best Little Girl In The World" is worth tracking down.

Movies about anorexia is pro-ana, and always will be.

[nummerskivan · 6/10 · 11 June 2023]

This and every movie, article or anything else about anorexia was what drove my own anorexia. In the 80's this was the movie to have on VCR and 1 or 2 books about anorexics. Watch every time one wanted to give up starving, to keep going.

Media of all kind should start thinking about this in the way they think about suicides, and stop showing stuff that are triggering. This movie may be old, but new ones are the same, triggeringwise.

What is showed, can spread, that's why suicide is not exposed as much. The experts know that in is contagious, however you try to show it. Info is spread in another way.

Movie about a teenager with overbearing parents who develops anorexia.

[celticheart1305 · 10/10 · 13 May 2007]

Okay, first of all this movie is good, but dated. The music was awful and at times the songs they played that was popular back then is just so painful to listen to. There is one particular scene during the cheerleader tryouts where this one girl's cheer is so ridiculous you just have to laugh. It was a very good movie despite all of that though. Very dated as far as the handling and treatment of eating disorders though. It definitely has its campy moments but overall, the acting is great. It's far different from the book though. The family dynamic is totally different as is the type of residence they have. In the movie they live in a house, in the book it's an apartment. I really think the book is best, but for its time and all it's a pretty good movie. Also, they didn't use a body double for the skinny scenes. That was really J.J.L. She really lost all of that weight for the film.

Outdated and not worth watching

[SusieSalmonLikeTheFish · 2/10 · 8 October 2014]

I'm not saying older films are bad, I love them. I love My Bloody Valentine, which also came out in 1981, but there's a difference between a fictional horror film and a film where real issues and treatments are discussed. Methods to treat mental illnesses and/or addictions are far different today than they were ten, twenty, thirty years ago. This film also has the feeling of an incredibly typical Lifetime movie, and it follows a pattern: a girl has anorexia, she's committed to a treatment center that saves the day, and voilà, easy as that. I read the book, which is also rather outdated. The Best Little Girl in the World is more of a film to watch if you're interested in the differences between psychiatric treatment today and in past years, or to watch just for nostalgic value. They were originally going to cast Jodie Foster and I honestly think she would have done a much better acting job than Jennifer Jason Leigh. The film itself is pretty boring and the acting throughout is typical TV movie acting. Really the only example of a film about mental illness/addiction that is timeless is Go Ask Alice (1973). I don't really recommend this unless you want to pass the time.

Another true health class film

[Cyprus386 · 3 September 2000]

I saw this movie in health class as part of the eating disorders unit. I found it to be in the same category as "A Secret Between Friends": Better seen in class than at home. Everyone I know who saw this was disgusted by Casey's bulimic body. I know I was. The only major problem I see here was the anti-climactic ending. They could have definitely done more here.