GIRL IN PROGRESS
An entertaining coming-of-age comedy meant for discerning adults.
Should You Watch It?
GIRL IN PROGRESS is well made and entertaining, with good acting and a story about a mother and daughter who both need to grow up. Its strongest thread is the daughter’s longing for her mother’s attention. The two eventually learn how to relate to one another, and the film includes some moral and redemptive elements.
But the road there is troubling. Ansiedad treats losing her virginity as part of growing up and follows a rebellion plan involving the “wrong crowd,” scandalous clothing, and other dangerous choices. Her friend’s rebellion nearly costs her life. Grace’s affair with a married man and her failures as a mother add further mature material.
The film has real merit, but its content is not suitable for children or young teens. Discerning adults may take the trip; families with younger viewers should choose something else.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESGrace is a single mother who had her daughter, Ansiedad, as a teenager. Ansiedad sees Grace as irresponsible and loose, yet desperately wants her attention.
After a teacher explains that literary characters grow up through a “rite of passage,” Ansiedad decides to create one for herself. With help from her best friend, she plans to leave childhood behind and make her own way in the world.
Meanwhile, Grace struggles with work, motherhood, and an affair with a married man.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means GIRL IN PROGRESS is entertaining and well made, though its approach has clear weaknesses. The acting is well done, and the mother-daughter story eventually brings the characters together in a meaningful way.
The movie uses high irony and very blunt, “tell all” dialogue to create comedy. That approach can be entertaining, but the dialogue is often overly direct. The film also takes its teenage daughter through a great deal of rebellion before she and her mother finally reconnect.
The Worldview
GIRL IN PROGRESS has a humanist worldview. Its characters overcome their troubles without faith in God being the thing that helps them. Ansiedad creates her own future and acts out rebellion while seeking her mother’s attention. Grace must learn to become a better mother, and the film clearly stresses her love for her daughter.
The movie does include some moral and redemptive elements. Ansiedad eventually decides she does not want to lose her innocence, and repercussions are shown from the rebellion of the two teenage girls. However, there are no clear repercussions from Grace’s affair. The film also treats the mother’s responsibility primarily as a human and relational lesson rather than a matter of accountability before God.
The story recognizes a daughter’s deep need for her mother’s attention, but it shows that need being pursued through destructive choices. Scripture offers a more secure hope for the abandoned and longing heart: “For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the LORD will take me in” (Psalm 27:10).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Strong humanist worldview with the title character creating her own future, with some moral, redemptive elements such as God is mentioned during an epiphany, with character saying it’s an “oh my God” moment, and teenage girl eventually decides to stay chaste; five obscenities, four profanities, scatological humor with talk of menstruation; women slaps man in face; strong elements of sexual immorality such as talk about losing virginity as a sign of maturity and right of passage, teenage boy shown with condom implied preparing for sex, mother is having an affair with married man and kisses him; upper male nudity, girl dresses but nothing shown, scandalous clothing on teenage girl and low cut dresses on mother; alcohol use, drunkenness, underage drinking; smoking; and, strong miscellaneous immorality includes stealing, lying, dysfunctional single parent family, mother is irresponsible and a bad role model for daughter but learns to do better, daughter plans to run away from mother, daughter rebels against mother but truly wants her attention, young teenage character runs away.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Ansiedad wants her mother’s attention so badly that she makes destructive choices. How can a family communicate love and need before those feelings turn into rebellion?
Ephesians 6:4 · James 1:19The film connects growing up with sexual experience. What does Scripture say makes someone mature, and how is that different from simply doing something adult?
1 Corinthians 13:11 · Ephesians 4:14–15Grace learns that being a mother requires responsibility. What responsibilities do parents have toward their children, and where do they need God’s help?
Deuteronomy 6:6–7 · Titus 2:4–5The characters try to solve their troubles without faith in God. What difference does it make to bring our fears, failures, and relationships to Him?
Psalm 55:22 · Philippians 4:6–7The Final Word
GIRL IN PROGRESS is entertaining, well acted, and honest about a daughter’s need for her mother’s attention. But its mature themes and troubling rebellion make it unsuitable for children and young teens. For discerning adults, it is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For younger viewers, choose something else.
