Sick Girl (2023)
3/10
Nina Dobrev shines in a lackluster drama, hindered by a predictable plot, lame screenplay, and overlong runtime
28 December 2023
Warning: Spoilers
More so in the drama genre than pure comedy, although I did chuckle a couple times. The screenplay is lame, too predictable towards the end when she's forgiven so easily in a short amount of time, and the later half of the film is dragged out overstaying its welcome. The runtime could've been cut down by 20 minutes. There's a right way to do a taboo subject like faking cancer for attention and there's a bad way: Sick Girl is the latter.

I literally was like this is starting to fall into the silly, stupid category once I got to the scene where Wren's (Nina Dobrev) best friends have shaved their head in support of her cancer diagnosis, which she has been faking just to get the attention of her friends so that it could bring them together and they can hang out more often like old times. Nina puts in a fantastic committed performance, showcasing her dramatic range in her lead role as Wren and tbh she deserves better lead role material. Though, her performance cannot salvage how pathetically bland and disjointed the film's writing is by director/writer Jennifer Cram.

Although, I did like the emphasized theme of the significance of preserving and maintaining close friendships in adulthood, regardless of life responsibilities and individual paths of having kids, being married, etc. That shouldn't take priority over important friendships you hold dear to you. They are equal and it's all about balance, and making time for what and who is meaningful in your life.

Not a film I'd recommend going out of your way to watch, but if you're a fan of Nina's acting and on-screen presence (like I am), then yes I recommend Sick Girl as a one-time viewing. In overview though, she deserves better-written indie drama films or a drama series to star in.
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