Girls Trip‘s Regina Hall and Black-ish‘s Marsai Martin both star as Jordan Sanders in Little. Hall as the take-no-prisoners tech mogul adult version of Jordan and Martin as the 13-year-old version of her who wakes up in her adult self’s penthouse just before a do-or-die presentation.
Regina Hall as Jordan Sanders in “Little,” co-written and directed by Tina Gordon.
Insecure‘s Issa Rae plays Jordan’s long-suffering assistant April, the only one in on the secret that her daily tormentor is now trapped in an awkward tween body just as everything is on the line.
(from left) Little Jordan Sanders (Marsai Martin) and April Williams (Issa Rae) in “Little,” co-written and directed by Tina Gordon.
I really enjoyed Little. Just in case you were unaware, Marsai Martin one of the stars of Blackish came up with story line after seeing one of her mom’s favorite movies, Big. So yes the movie has those switch in body elements but written for today’s generation and starring a black cast. And that should frankly make no difference as this is a story that anyone of any age and color will relate to.
In showing how the older Jordon became the tech titan yet scary titan was definitely a good showcase for the young Marsai and sets the stage for how Jordan became Jordon. But when Jordon arrives at the office, it is hilarious to watch her minions scurry out of her vision, very reminiscent of Miranda Priestly in Devil Wears Prada is pretty hilarious. And reminded me a bit of Joffrey in Game of Thrones with her food throwing and insults towards her team. And Marsai Martin, forever known as the youngest Executive Producer in Hollywood as the younger Jordan is pretty hilarious and really commands the screen.
And poor Issa Rae as Jordon’s assistant rounds out the cast. In fact, we see her journey as the horribly mistreated assistant to the pretty much saving the company is actually not so much funny but brings an underlying seriousness to the movie.
(from left) Devon (Tucker Meek), Isaac (JD McCrary), little Jordan Sanders (Marsai Martin) and Raina (Thalia Tran) in “Little,” co-written and directed by Tina Gordon.
Little is an irreverent new comedy about the price of success, the power of sisterhood and having a second chance to grow up — and glow up — right. I definitely recommend the movie, you will laugh, shed a tear and maybe bring back a few horrible memories from middle school. That said, this is a bit of spoiler alert but I have to mention that I found the older Jordon in her 13-year-old body hitting on the two male adults was totally unnecessary. It was meant to be funny I am sure but instead, it put the men in an extremely awkward position trying to be nice to a 13-year-old but then realize that she is hitting on them and then have to back way. It was creepy and so inappropriate, the only misstep in the movie.
Little is directed by Tina Gordon (writer, Drumline) with a story by Tracy Oliver (Girls Trip) and a screenplay by Oliver and Gordon, based on an idea by teen actress Martin. The film is produced by Packer and his producing partner James Lopez and by Kenya Barris (Girls Trip, Black-ish), and is executive produced by Preston Holmes (Night School), Hall, Marsai Martin and Josh Martin.
Little, the new comedy from Universal Pictures is now open theaters.
Disclosure: NYC Single Mom was not compensated for this review. I paid to see Little Movie.
