I usually have much fun in deriding all of the bad Lifetime movies that my wife watches all the time. I caught this one about 15 minutes in, and kept watching too. It was pretty good. The acting is decent, and the director and writer do a good job of spacing out and escalating the bullying that the girl endures. I thought it was also good how the main character, as she keeps getting bullied, continues to try to find a way back into her crowd. Because, it's realistic. People put up with all kinds of crap to get accepted into a clique. And, the mom's performance was solid too, realizing too late but trying everything she could be figure out why her daughter was getting more and more upset. Good flick. I'd watch it again.
60 Reviews
The real deal on High School
Terra_X5 April 2005
"Odd Girl Out" (2005) Alexa Vega, Lisa Vidal, Leah Pipes. 4.5/5.0 stars. When a girl (Vega) finds that her closest friends start to spread rumors and ruin her life she starts to break down to the hurtful and often harmful rituals of High School. Vanessa is your average girl trying to find herself in the world. She is friends with Stacey (Leah Pipes), the most popular girl in school, until Nikki (Elizabeth Rice) and Tiffany (Alicia Morton) sabotage her friendship with the queen bee and the clique. She is tortured throughout the school year until finally, the words start to get to her, and not in a good way. The school outcast, Emily (Perry) joins Vanessa on her quest to navigate through the dreadful everyday life that our teens go through everyday. My thoughts on it-This definitely hit the surface with a stone, and made some huge points that "Mean Girls" (2004) failed to point out. HIhg School may be the hardest times of our lives. Especially when your friends turn on you, and you are all alone in a teenage wasteland of betrayal, rumors, and raging hormones. This is the real deal. The secret life of girls is NOT pretty. What goes on behind our backs-Its one place where you cannot protect your children. Parents should know that this movie does contain some very dramatic elements to it. There is some very intense moments or drama and schoolyard insults such as slut, whore, or bitch. There is some sexual references made through out the movie. Children under 13 should have an adult or guardian around for some mild discretion.
Rated TV-14 for Strong language and thematic elements.
Rated TV-14 for Strong language and thematic elements.
Lifetime does it again!
Claumaur15 April 2005
Odd Girl Out is probably one to of the most realistic movies made-for-teens\pre-teens out there. I have seen She's Too Young, Mean Girls, etc, but this is the best. It is about a girl Vanessa who is one of the top popular girls in her school. Her life is great- she's got straight A's,she's on the school soccer team, and her best friend Stacy by her side. Everything is great- except for her friend Nikki. Slowly, but surely Nikki begins to build a web of lies, taunts, and rumors about Nikki. She tells Stacy that Vanessa is trying to steal her "boyfriend", and Vanessa goes from the popular table to the loser table. Nikki, Stacy, Emily, the Nikki replaced clone, and other girls begin to tear apart Vanessa's life-taunting her, calling her fat, and playing mind games on her. Soon Vanessa becomes depressed and goes desperate to claim her throne in the popular crowd once again.
This movie was so good! Except for the dim lighting and the that rap they had in there it was great. Leah Pipes and Alicia Morton played such good roles I"ll never be able to watch Disney movies the same way again. Alexa Vega was great and played a believable thirteen year old, unlike Leah Pipes who was a little too old for the movie.
Overall, it's a great movie! I think anyone between the ages 12-15 should watch it!
This movie was so good! Except for the dim lighting and the that rap they had in there it was great. Leah Pipes and Alicia Morton played such good roles I"ll never be able to watch Disney movies the same way again. Alexa Vega was great and played a believable thirteen year old, unlike Leah Pipes who was a little too old for the movie.
Overall, it's a great movie! I think anyone between the ages 12-15 should watch it!
If you have been through it....you understand it
monkey425025 March 2006
I watched this movie the first night it was shown on lifetime....and I cried....I am Vanessa....I am an odd girl out....I have been made fun of...humiliated....teased.....and every single thing that Vanessa went through/ did I have went through and I have done....I think everything in this movie was done perfectly. It shows girls that high school is hell and you have to know how to deal with it. Girls are mean and they will be mean no matter what...I am a senior in high school with less than 3 months left and people still start with me for no reason and try to bring me down. I was amazed at this movie and I think every teenage girl should watch this. Especially those that bully/tease....they need to realize that they are NOT perfect what so ever...and that all of the teasing they do can have horrible effects. It wont stop any of them...but maybe they would be a little less harsh or at least have some sympathy.
Believable and very sad
good_ole_weezer9 August 2006
As much as i wanted to hate this movie I could not. I knew it was a made for t.v. movie and I could tell it was a movie for teenage girls (i am a 16 year old male). What could I possibly find to like in a movie like this. Surprisingly I found a lot. The acting, while not amazing, is believable enough to make this movie work. This movie gives a mostly realistic depiction of the gossip world in a modern day public high school. There are a few times in the movie where they simply over do it but most of the time it is right on target. Watching Vanessa (the main character) get socially torn apart was very sad to watch and even at the end i was left wondering where she was going next. A very good movie if you are looking for something to tug at your heartstrings.
Girls are mean.
isabel901323 April 2006
Warning: Spoilers
I found some of these comments to be really offensive. Just because you are in high school does not mean you know everything going on within the walls. So what if you're secure with yourself and your relationship with others? That's you, that's not EVERY single person in the ENTIRE high school. This movie really sent me a message to stop being mean to others because you can really affect them so much to where they want to do some dark things to themselves, such as suicide. Bullying among students is a PROBLEM that needs to be fixed. Things like this really do happen, as hard as it is to believe. People really do get called sluts when they probably haven't even done anything remotely 'sluttish'. People make up things and these things get spread. Obviously this is hard to believe for some of you because you seem unable to comprehend the fact that this isn't make believe. I thought this movie was fantastic and it really sends a message to everyone that you need to treat others the way you want to be treated. I even cried a few times during this movie. I encourage mothers and daughters to watch this movie together. It's a really good rent.
High school troubles, think you've got them?
Go_Skins5 April 2005
I saw this movie on Lifetime T.V. It was really hyped up so I figured it had to be somewhat decent. It's the story of Alexa Vega (Spykids) as a teenage girl trying to fit in with some popular girls in her high school. The girls she tries to be friends with end up turning on her and make her feel miserable. I didn't care too much for the lighting job. I mean how many schools and classrooms do you see that are almost pitch black? Vanessa and her mom, played by the lovely and talented Lisa Vidal, have that relationship we see too much of these days. The father of the family, who we never see, is divorced and living somewhere else so the mom is left to deal with all of Vanessa's problems. This is one to watch if you have a teen age girl at home! 7/10!
Grange Hill it ain't!
Billy_Hicks24 November 2005
I accidentally bumped into this made for High-Schoolers TV outing on Channel 4 one cold winter's weekday afternoon when I was off work.
It's 25 years since I was at the UK equivalent (secondary school) and I'm a bloke. So probably not that close to the subject matter.
But it was stylishly done with dark and moody lighting (don't American schools have light bulbs?) and attractive lead characters.
The acting wasn't movie standard, but not too bad.
What was good was the plot. And the attention to detail. In real life bullies get physical. But in this day and age the abuse is more likely to be psychological and delivered with the aid of technology. The internet and mobile phones can be vicious weapons. In that respect this film was a fresh look at an old problem.
I suspect most reviewers and readers will be of school age. Sorry to tell you that there were school bullies long before me (look up Tom Brown's Schooldays) and they'll be around long after you lot have 'graduated' as you call it.
But bullies are weak. Those on the receiving end need to be strong (I refuse to call them victims).
An entertaining film, if a little juvenile for me. But I watched it 'till the end so that says something!
It's 25 years since I was at the UK equivalent (secondary school) and I'm a bloke. So probably not that close to the subject matter.
But it was stylishly done with dark and moody lighting (don't American schools have light bulbs?) and attractive lead characters.
The acting wasn't movie standard, but not too bad.
What was good was the plot. And the attention to detail. In real life bullies get physical. But in this day and age the abuse is more likely to be psychological and delivered with the aid of technology. The internet and mobile phones can be vicious weapons. In that respect this film was a fresh look at an old problem.
I suspect most reviewers and readers will be of school age. Sorry to tell you that there were school bullies long before me (look up Tom Brown's Schooldays) and they'll be around long after you lot have 'graduated' as you call it.
But bullies are weak. Those on the receiving end need to be strong (I refuse to call them victims).
An entertaining film, if a little juvenile for me. But I watched it 'till the end so that says something!
Dead on. And a sizable minority of boys are like this, too.
brycecox122 March 2006
I'm a man. Previously a boy.
Except for certain advances in communications technology made since 1982, I had basically the exact same experience as the girl in the movie (with all the genders reversed, of course).
For people who have been through an experience as vindictive, drawn-out, thorough, and unrelenting as the experience suffered by the girl in the movie, this will be a movie-watching experience both very painful and very valuable.
Perhaps even more so for those of us who didn't have a parent as ideal and understanding as the one in the film. But, for the purposes of the film and its messages, that character is well-designed and serves many useful purposes.
This film covers a lot of bases in a lot of ways. It's an impressive accomplishment, seeing as it's impossible to really do justice to the subject matter in the space of a standard film. Very, very impressive.
I like hard-hitting, gritty dramas like Requiem For A Dream, Bad Lieutenant, and that sort of thing (also, harsh black comedies like Shallow Grave, Bitter Moon, etc.). This film hit me harder than any of those.
Girls can be as visibly and simply and physically violent as the stereotypical boys (e.g., the tormentors and killers of Reena Virk in British Columbia, Canada). And boys can be as invisibly and complexly and non-physically violent as the stereotypical girls.
It's not a simple world out there. And it has a lot of barbarians in it. Male and female. And they don't all fit within the usual gender roles.
There are plenty of masculine, heterosexual evil boys who behave like evil girls -- because they know it's tougher to get caught that way and that the damage done is deeper; in other words, the smarter ones use more complex and indirect methods. And everyone is far less aware of them than the big, dumb, loud, physically-violent ones -- indeed they likely never get caught because their male victims wouldn't be manly/masculine/tough/cool/honourable/etc. if they were to complain about it or admit to being bothered by it or to cry about it, would they? Just show me all the girls who lust after and fall in love with men who cry about getting bullied. Oh, that's right, there aren't any -- they're too busy fawning over the thoughtful, intelligent, emotionally-literate, understanding Alpha-male goons who are beating those other guys up. Sorry, I forgot.
It's frequently unlike the stereotype of "boy beats guy up, and it's over -- simple." And in those cases, it's particularly damaging when you've been socialized into the idiotic philistine social orthodoxy of boys not being allowed to cry, and boys have to keep a stiff upper lip and hide and suppress their feelings.
Anyway.... the film accomplishes its goals and its messages beautifully. 9-outta-10.
Except for certain advances in communications technology made since 1982, I had basically the exact same experience as the girl in the movie (with all the genders reversed, of course).
For people who have been through an experience as vindictive, drawn-out, thorough, and unrelenting as the experience suffered by the girl in the movie, this will be a movie-watching experience both very painful and very valuable.
Perhaps even more so for those of us who didn't have a parent as ideal and understanding as the one in the film. But, for the purposes of the film and its messages, that character is well-designed and serves many useful purposes.
This film covers a lot of bases in a lot of ways. It's an impressive accomplishment, seeing as it's impossible to really do justice to the subject matter in the space of a standard film. Very, very impressive.
I like hard-hitting, gritty dramas like Requiem For A Dream, Bad Lieutenant, and that sort of thing (also, harsh black comedies like Shallow Grave, Bitter Moon, etc.). This film hit me harder than any of those.
Girls can be as visibly and simply and physically violent as the stereotypical boys (e.g., the tormentors and killers of Reena Virk in British Columbia, Canada). And boys can be as invisibly and complexly and non-physically violent as the stereotypical girls.
It's not a simple world out there. And it has a lot of barbarians in it. Male and female. And they don't all fit within the usual gender roles.
There are plenty of masculine, heterosexual evil boys who behave like evil girls -- because they know it's tougher to get caught that way and that the damage done is deeper; in other words, the smarter ones use more complex and indirect methods. And everyone is far less aware of them than the big, dumb, loud, physically-violent ones -- indeed they likely never get caught because their male victims wouldn't be manly/masculine/tough/cool/honourable/etc. if they were to complain about it or admit to being bothered by it or to cry about it, would they? Just show me all the girls who lust after and fall in love with men who cry about getting bullied. Oh, that's right, there aren't any -- they're too busy fawning over the thoughtful, intelligent, emotionally-literate, understanding Alpha-male goons who are beating those other guys up. Sorry, I forgot.
It's frequently unlike the stereotype of "boy beats guy up, and it's over -- simple." And in those cases, it's particularly damaging when you've been socialized into the idiotic philistine social orthodoxy of boys not being allowed to cry, and boys have to keep a stiff upper lip and hide and suppress their feelings.
Anyway.... the film accomplishes its goals and its messages beautifully. 9-outta-10.
Could it be any more cliché
rocker8baby911 June 2005
Seriously the movie would have been a lot better if the girls weren't so unbelievably mean... i am in high school and the people do not act like that at all...its not even like she had sex and shes being called a slut. this movie was a sad attempt to connect with high school. i think that the actresses in this movie could have been a lot better as well, they tried to be way too sinister and could have gotten a lot better in order to be in this movie. This movie should have been written better and gone into more detail of Vanessa and Stacey's friendship as well as that other girl Nikki... and personally i think that the characters were a little crazy to go that insane over a boy...so unrealistic
It's idle evil, Charlie Brown!
Pro Jury9 April 2005
Superior made-for-TV effort. The director, an experienced horror flick maker, has a field day playing with the evil that is produced from warehousing many unwanted kids in government run schools. There is haunting music, harsh lighting and sinister dark shadows in most every school scene. The actors all play their parts well. The drama and emotions are driven far beyond the limits of most TV movies. I watched this film with a young adult who was recently teased and shunned by her group of friends. Wow, did ODD GIRL OUT ever hit a raw nerve with her, and judging from comments posted by other viewers, it has the power to expose deep hurts in many other viewers as well.
Along with the art and drama, there are many super-nice female forms to appreciate. Excellent job LIFETIME Channel!
Along with the art and drama, there are many super-nice female forms to appreciate. Excellent job LIFETIME Channel!
rather entertaining teen school drama
osvazas14 May 2012
I was pleasantly surprised by how well thought out and thought-provoking this films was. It might seem as a stereotypical situation when you see a girl being bullied by her friends in high school. This film, however, provides something original and more insightful than you would usually expect from a genre and premise like this. In the film we see a popular, good-looking girl turned into a victim, which is rather unusual and fresh. And I did root for the girl and indeed I was angry with what was happening to her, and therefore I wanted things to be sorted out by the end of the film. Ultimately, a great drama with a great story-line and character development.
Such a ignorant story line
contactcharlee17 July 2017
Why would parents be clueless? Really? This is why today it is even worse because the issue is not addressed. Everyone turns the other cheek. How horrible that your story line shows the victim as easy targets. I am appalled because my granddaughter, who is ten (yes in 2017), has experienced bullying and then new thing cyberbullying. It is a ripple effect where the bullies prevail, even the victim's friends are not around because of manipulation, and the victim does nothing. Seems since this movie has been made, it didn't help. It made you money. It also shows the ignorance we all are responsible for since it is a responsibility of all of u s. Not just the victims. The most realistic movie is "13 reasons"even though it could lead some question of suicide. But these shows are about children shutting down, not talking to their parents or someone!
Amazing
mixed_tape_Recorder4 April 2005
If you like would like to see a version of "Mean Girls" without the Comedy and with lots of drama this is your movie. I don't think I have seen a better movie that showed the real side of high school pressure. The movie actually shows what can really happen and how best friends aren't always forever, especially in a "popular crowd" because really its out to get to you. The movies by far one of my favorite movies and made me think if that would ever happened to me , what would I do? I liked how the movie made Vanessa get sucked back into the friendship with Stacey but in the end have the pressure let lose and bring it all on Stacey and show how ugly she was inside and how fake she was. This is a great movie to show to people about what peer pressuring could do to you and how effects your lifestyle. But I warn you when you watch the movie ... have a box of Kleenex because I surely needed it .
A very good movie that has some realism
mwcanadian3 June 2022
This movie is basically about girls bullying one girl. It starts off with 3 friends, 2 of them being best friends while the other is more like the 3rd wheel type and is clearly jealous, so to move up the friend ranking, she decides to set up the kind hearted best friend, then replace the best friend with a "wannabe" friend. The plan involves a guy, so naturally it works. They bully her so much.
This story pretty much paints a picture of how some girl cliques act and how they hurt the girl being bullied. The only thing I questioned with being real was a guy actually getting involved in calling the girl names, but the girls were spot on. One was clear cut mean, the other a wannabe, while the queen bee was such a fake. Good movie to show and teach kids on bullying.
This story pretty much paints a picture of how some girl cliques act and how they hurt the girl being bullied. The only thing I questioned with being real was a guy actually getting involved in calling the girl names, but the girls were spot on. One was clear cut mean, the other a wannabe, while the queen bee was such a fake. Good movie to show and teach kids on bullying.
Reality Check Steps in and it is not as Pretty
maine_31014 June 2008
Warning: Spoilers
This is no ordinary movie it deals with real life situations, hence it being on lifetime. In all, this movie brought me to a deeper understanding on the teenage life sequence and teaches you who your real friends are.
It begins on an ordinary day at school, Vanessa played by Alexa Vega hangs with her 'friends' Stacy and Nikki. The beginning defines the whole movie; people are on their cell phones and the internet, spreading whatever rumor they could for their own amusement. We are then introduced to Tony, a potential love interest for Vanessa, involved in a fight, the girls are seen as popular as Stacy calls Tony out to talk to him, but he only shows interest in Vanessa.
This movie deals with jealousy, popularity and control, and Nikki wanted to take control and push Vanessa out of the picture; Vanessa was good at soccer, a straight A student and even got the guy, Nikki obviously felt threatened. Fifteen minutes into the show and already you would be hooked.
Vanessa is your ideal school sweetheart and can be very gullible at times, obviously if you believe someone to be your best friend would you tell them all of your secrets, Stacy used that to her advantage to bring Vanessa down. I think subconsciously Stacy had it out for Vanessa until her moral kicked it. This movie shows you how truly mean girls can be.
Soon enough, Tony, remember the guy whom liked Vanessa, asked her out, after Stacy asked her to put in a good word for her. That was when they began to turn on Stacy and where Nikki saw it as an opportunity to bring her down *hmmm what are friends for right*. That was the first time the word 'slot' in reference to Vanessa was made. Nikki began her tantrums and pretty soon Vanessa was eating lunch at what was seen as the loser table, and Tony no longer spoke to her anymore. Still Vanessa thought that maybe she had said something or done something to offend Stacy, hence making the disturbing situation her fault, finding means to justify her 'best friends' actions. What I like about this entire plot is that all the characters are kept realistic, even though Vanessa still holds on to hope that maybe Stacy has a justified reason for being mean, no friend should have a justified reason for calling you names and condoning it for the entire school's benefit, but how could a best friend hurt you so deeply, easy, they are not your best friend or even a friend at all.
Vanessa's true friend, Emily, was right in front of her the entire time, but she was labeled as being an outcast and even Vanessa saw that as being uncool even when she was uncool. Still, the people saw as her friends continued to betray her and threat as if she were nothing at all.
Soon enough Vanessa went from being a high school sweetheart to having a broken heart. What was upsetting was still she confronted Stacy, hoping that if she caught her alone, things might be different, and Stacy pretended, lied, manipulated and deceived her again, her justification; it was probably pay back time for Vanessa for stealing a boyfriend that wasn't hers to begin with, or it was probably because she 'could' hurt Vanessa. The teasing continued and what broke Vanessa into pieces was that she still trusted her 'friend' but it crushed her when Stacy knowingly invited Vanessa to a party she knew no one would go to. Vanessa's mother was very moving as well. This movie also shows the value of parenting and what a parent would do for their child.
What amazed me was the fact that Stacy felt bad for Vanessa and she still continued to bring her down, even when she was on the ground, she just mashed her some more. Vanessa also gave the school a lot more to talk about when she cut her hair and Over Dosed in her bathroom.
The Internet and cell phones that were shown in the beginning were being used against Vanessa. Horrible emails, messages and video manipulations was being distributed across the school base. Why? All because she got good grades and was genuinely a good person. Wow that just shocked me, it made me realize how teenage cruel girls can be to others. I even asked the question, did Nikki feel like the better person even after every thing had gone as planned? Because it seemed like she planned this scheme from the start.
After Vanessa Over Dosed, the only person that came to visit her was Emily the same 'outcast' mentioned earlier. she gave Vanessa the hope she needed to survive another day in school until graduation. Vanessa's pride was not crushed enough, at least not in Nikki's mind. After Vanessa returned to school, she began to trust Stacy again and even the apology she gave was not as heart felt, she was automatically returned to 'best friend' status. They spoke to each other online and Stacy's idea of a sweet laugh-off was to send it to Nikki, she took the next leap to embarrass Vanessa one last time on graduation day. Nikki read the email out for the entire school in front of Vanessa, and this time she did not run away crying, she faced her main opponent, Stacy.
The end was sweat, but I did not get that feeling of relief, it showed the step's in Stacy reclaiming her life with her true friend by her side, but it ended too soon. They spent the entire movie demeaning Vanessa, but took the last few minutes to uplift her and it wasn't that satisfactory. I would still recommend this movie to anyone willing to watch this kind of true life story, you would not be disappointed.
It begins on an ordinary day at school, Vanessa played by Alexa Vega hangs with her 'friends' Stacy and Nikki. The beginning defines the whole movie; people are on their cell phones and the internet, spreading whatever rumor they could for their own amusement. We are then introduced to Tony, a potential love interest for Vanessa, involved in a fight, the girls are seen as popular as Stacy calls Tony out to talk to him, but he only shows interest in Vanessa.
This movie deals with jealousy, popularity and control, and Nikki wanted to take control and push Vanessa out of the picture; Vanessa was good at soccer, a straight A student and even got the guy, Nikki obviously felt threatened. Fifteen minutes into the show and already you would be hooked.
Vanessa is your ideal school sweetheart and can be very gullible at times, obviously if you believe someone to be your best friend would you tell them all of your secrets, Stacy used that to her advantage to bring Vanessa down. I think subconsciously Stacy had it out for Vanessa until her moral kicked it. This movie shows you how truly mean girls can be.
Soon enough, Tony, remember the guy whom liked Vanessa, asked her out, after Stacy asked her to put in a good word for her. That was when they began to turn on Stacy and where Nikki saw it as an opportunity to bring her down *hmmm what are friends for right*. That was the first time the word 'slot' in reference to Vanessa was made. Nikki began her tantrums and pretty soon Vanessa was eating lunch at what was seen as the loser table, and Tony no longer spoke to her anymore. Still Vanessa thought that maybe she had said something or done something to offend Stacy, hence making the disturbing situation her fault, finding means to justify her 'best friends' actions. What I like about this entire plot is that all the characters are kept realistic, even though Vanessa still holds on to hope that maybe Stacy has a justified reason for being mean, no friend should have a justified reason for calling you names and condoning it for the entire school's benefit, but how could a best friend hurt you so deeply, easy, they are not your best friend or even a friend at all.
Vanessa's true friend, Emily, was right in front of her the entire time, but she was labeled as being an outcast and even Vanessa saw that as being uncool even when she was uncool. Still, the people saw as her friends continued to betray her and threat as if she were nothing at all.
Soon enough Vanessa went from being a high school sweetheart to having a broken heart. What was upsetting was still she confronted Stacy, hoping that if she caught her alone, things might be different, and Stacy pretended, lied, manipulated and deceived her again, her justification; it was probably pay back time for Vanessa for stealing a boyfriend that wasn't hers to begin with, or it was probably because she 'could' hurt Vanessa. The teasing continued and what broke Vanessa into pieces was that she still trusted her 'friend' but it crushed her when Stacy knowingly invited Vanessa to a party she knew no one would go to. Vanessa's mother was very moving as well. This movie also shows the value of parenting and what a parent would do for their child.
What amazed me was the fact that Stacy felt bad for Vanessa and she still continued to bring her down, even when she was on the ground, she just mashed her some more. Vanessa also gave the school a lot more to talk about when she cut her hair and Over Dosed in her bathroom.
The Internet and cell phones that were shown in the beginning were being used against Vanessa. Horrible emails, messages and video manipulations was being distributed across the school base. Why? All because she got good grades and was genuinely a good person. Wow that just shocked me, it made me realize how teenage cruel girls can be to others. I even asked the question, did Nikki feel like the better person even after every thing had gone as planned? Because it seemed like she planned this scheme from the start.
After Vanessa Over Dosed, the only person that came to visit her was Emily the same 'outcast' mentioned earlier. she gave Vanessa the hope she needed to survive another day in school until graduation. Vanessa's pride was not crushed enough, at least not in Nikki's mind. After Vanessa returned to school, she began to trust Stacy again and even the apology she gave was not as heart felt, she was automatically returned to 'best friend' status. They spoke to each other online and Stacy's idea of a sweet laugh-off was to send it to Nikki, she took the next leap to embarrass Vanessa one last time on graduation day. Nikki read the email out for the entire school in front of Vanessa, and this time she did not run away crying, she faced her main opponent, Stacy.
The end was sweat, but I did not get that feeling of relief, it showed the step's in Stacy reclaiming her life with her true friend by her side, but it ended too soon. They spent the entire movie demeaning Vanessa, but took the last few minutes to uplift her and it wasn't that satisfactory. I would still recommend this movie to anyone willing to watch this kind of true life story, you would not be disappointed.
Good Enough
PennyReviews4 March 2024
Teenage Drama '' Odd Girl Out '' is a movie about a girl who is severelly bullied by her best friend and her minions.
The movie starts off kind of odd, making you think that this will be just another teenage rom com, though the dark corridors surely give a hint of what is yet to come. And things slowly escalate from there.
The drama hits its peak when the mom starts getting involved in the case, and it is also when, after hitting rock bottom, our firl finally realizes how she should handle her toxic best friend.
The performances were, also, enjoyable by everyone in the cast.
And even though it feels like a tv movie, the film manages to present the story quite nicely.
The movie starts off kind of odd, making you think that this will be just another teenage rom com, though the dark corridors surely give a hint of what is yet to come. And things slowly escalate from there.
The drama hits its peak when the mom starts getting involved in the case, and it is also when, after hitting rock bottom, our firl finally realizes how she should handle her toxic best friend.
The performances were, also, enjoyable by everyone in the cast.
And even though it feels like a tv movie, the film manages to present the story quite nicely.
I'd Pass if I Were You
thirteensixsixsix30 August 2012
I was a little younger when I first watched this movie. It was about bullying and how catty girls could be; being a huge fan of the movie "Mean Girls", I decided to rewatch the movie with two of my other male friends a few days ago, thinking I would be impressed. I was not.
I definitely wasn't expecting this to be a comedy so I was looking forward to some real intellectual drama. What I got instead was an average performance by most of the actors and a very melodramatic script with stereotyped characters.
The mother was actually fairly realistic and her acting was undoubtedly better than anyone else's. But still, her character isn't original, because we've seen the same Mom in dozens of high school movies. Another flaw is that the film's antagonists seem to have nothing else to do with their lives other than making Vanessa miserable. It's not an accurate portrayal of high school because the mean girls aren't just mean; they're borderline evil.
It's not a terrible movie but I'd never recommend it to anyone. I can see how it might appeal to some people, but it's just too over the top for me to enjoy. I would recommend watching "Mean Girls" if you're looking for a good movie with a strong message. If you're looking for something dramatic, try "Cyberbully".
It isn't much better than this film but the acting is far superior and the protagonists are much more likable. But to be honest, I wouldn't really recommend that movie ordinarily, either.
I definitely wasn't expecting this to be a comedy so I was looking forward to some real intellectual drama. What I got instead was an average performance by most of the actors and a very melodramatic script with stereotyped characters.
The mother was actually fairly realistic and her acting was undoubtedly better than anyone else's. But still, her character isn't original, because we've seen the same Mom in dozens of high school movies. Another flaw is that the film's antagonists seem to have nothing else to do with their lives other than making Vanessa miserable. It's not an accurate portrayal of high school because the mean girls aren't just mean; they're borderline evil.
It's not a terrible movie but I'd never recommend it to anyone. I can see how it might appeal to some people, but it's just too over the top for me to enjoy. I would recommend watching "Mean Girls" if you're looking for a good movie with a strong message. If you're looking for something dramatic, try "Cyberbully".
It isn't much better than this film but the acting is far superior and the protagonists are much more likable. But to be honest, I wouldn't really recommend that movie ordinarily, either.
My view on Odd Girl Out
bammargera195612 April 2005
Odd girl out was very moving in my opinion I've watched it like 10 times already Cause i love it SO much but once i watched it the first time i think i cried but anyways i kinda figured out that,that is how some of my friends and even I act towards other people in my school and i mean I'm only in 7th grade but its still hurts and I know from experience and it can hurt your feelings not to mention your pride can be scared for life by nasty rumors people make up and as my mom always says " Rumors are as stupid as the people who start them." and in some ways i believe that but then again in some ways i don't the rumors could be false and then that might or might not blow over but then in another way if they are true and people have proof then your could be in trouble cause you brought this upon yourself . Odd Girl Out really helped me under stand how people felt when i called them names. So from now on I'll hold my tongue and be nicer.
~Sammy~
~Sammy~
Maybe A Bit Too MTV But Does Show The Damage Bullying Causes
Theo Robertson5 February 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Teenage high school student Vanessa is friends with Stacey but when Vanessa asks out a boy Stacey has her eye on the friendship ends . Worse it leads to a bullying campaign where Stacey and her friends makes Vanessa's life an absolute living hell that drives Vanessa to the brink of suicide
To a degree this is a fairly effective TVM centering around the misery that bullying brings and you really do feel sympathy for Vanessa's plight as she finds herself friendless as Stacey and her gang turn on her . There is a slight problem and that is director Tom Mcloughlin more interested in adopting an MTV directing style rather than developing the story more
There's another slight fly in the ointment and that's the climax where Vanessa and Stacey make their peace only for Vanessa to realise Stacey is not to be trusted . Considering everything Vanessa has gone through is it likely that anyone would want to befriend Stacey again after all she's done . It's not helped by the cheesy scene Vanessa's mom mouthing " I'm so proud of you "
Having said that it's a TVM made for a certain market and if the production team made it a bit more gritty then the audience might have found it too heavy to watch and the positive comments on this page indicates that ODD GIRL OUT has succeeded in showing what a terrible thing bullying is
To a degree this is a fairly effective TVM centering around the misery that bullying brings and you really do feel sympathy for Vanessa's plight as she finds herself friendless as Stacey and her gang turn on her . There is a slight problem and that is director Tom Mcloughlin more interested in adopting an MTV directing style rather than developing the story more
There's another slight fly in the ointment and that's the climax where Vanessa and Stacey make their peace only for Vanessa to realise Stacey is not to be trusted . Considering everything Vanessa has gone through is it likely that anyone would want to befriend Stacey again after all she's done . It's not helped by the cheesy scene Vanessa's mom mouthing " I'm so proud of you "
Having said that it's a TVM made for a certain market and if the production team made it a bit more gritty then the audience might have found it too heavy to watch and the positive comments on this page indicates that ODD GIRL OUT has succeeded in showing what a terrible thing bullying is
Stereotyped
old_fluffy_possum0023 March 2007
Warning: Spoilers
I watched this movie at the end of last year with low expectations. I saw about a half hour of Sleepover and decided that Alex Vega was among the worst young actresses in Hollywood.
Odd Girl Out is not completely pathetic "Days Of Our Lives" crap, but it is so stereotyped and the characters are badly interpreted. I found Vega's Vanessa to be pathetic, stupid and a victim. For example her friends create a hate website about her and yet she still asks her friend Stacey if she's angry with her... which honestly makes no sense. The mother was actually fairly impressive but nothing to write home about. The film drags a bit and Vanessa continues to run back to Stacey even after she continues to bully her.
It's hard for me to judge because I have never been to a American high school and my own high school isn't to bad with girl fights and all that jazz, but I think it became heavily over the top with the hate websites, chopping off of hair and that OD thing. It just seems that those girls became way to cruel and over the top.
It's pretty bad but I can see why it might appeal to some people. In my opinion however, it's a inaccurate portrayal of teenage girls. From my own experience, they are far more subtle and sneaky than this films portrays. If you want a film that is "in touch" with teenagers and never gets melodramatic, watch Mean Girls.
Odd Girl Out is not completely pathetic "Days Of Our Lives" crap, but it is so stereotyped and the characters are badly interpreted. I found Vega's Vanessa to be pathetic, stupid and a victim. For example her friends create a hate website about her and yet she still asks her friend Stacey if she's angry with her... which honestly makes no sense. The mother was actually fairly impressive but nothing to write home about. The film drags a bit and Vanessa continues to run back to Stacey even after she continues to bully her.
It's hard for me to judge because I have never been to a American high school and my own high school isn't to bad with girl fights and all that jazz, but I think it became heavily over the top with the hate websites, chopping off of hair and that OD thing. It just seems that those girls became way to cruel and over the top.
It's pretty bad but I can see why it might appeal to some people. In my opinion however, it's a inaccurate portrayal of teenage girls. From my own experience, they are far more subtle and sneaky than this films portrays. If you want a film that is "in touch" with teenagers and never gets melodramatic, watch Mean Girls.
Really, Really Mean Girls
freelancespice12 April 2005
Warning: Spoilers
Spoilers, but nothing super specific.
Pretty and popular, Vanessa Snyder is a 4.0 student with a promising future as she faces the year preceding her (middle school!) graduation. Little by little her "friends" begin to tear her down for no particular reason at all, until she can't even bear to show her face on campus, for fear of what they might say or do next.
This sounds like a standard, everyday problem for any and every teen and preteen. It is. But, as Vanessa's mother ultimately realizes, it's much more severe than people realize.
Odd Girl Out tackles the topic of verbal (and virtual) bullying. By employing word of mouth, internet messenger, and website campaigns, Vanessa's classmates violate her trust, destroy her self-esteem, and use her to their own academic benefit.
Tina Fey's Mean Girls introduces similar (comedy-based) concepts on the bullying front, featuring popular girls singling out everyone who isn't them for the express purpose of no reason at all, other than the less popular targeting the even lesser to escalate within the ranks. I'm also drawn to Nikki Reed's semi-autobiographical Thirteen as a parallel, in that it focuses on the (sometimes horribly mind-blowing) scenarios that are reality for middle-schoolers. In the case of that film and Odd Girl Out, I found myself constantly awed when the ages of the characters are brought to attention.
Alexa Vega lays the dramatic smack-down as Vanessa, showing she's got serious range beyond the comedy based kid flicks, holding her own against long time TV/movie veteran Lisa Vidal. The two have a fantastic chemistry, whether they're getting along or engaged in those all too familiar mother/daughter "leave me alone, you can't possibly understand" angry yet tearful exchanges.
Visually, this is a very stylized picture. The school scenes are very dark, with a blue filter. However, once I realized that the director, Tom McLoughlin hails from a history in horror, it all makes sense. Looking at the elements, much of Odd Girl Out feels like a horror film, and rightfully so. The girls who attack Vanessa are ultimately more horrific than many a goalie-masked, razor-fingered serial killer who's slashed his way across the screen. In fact, if one of the girls (Nikki, in particular) sprouted horns or turned into a werewolf and Vanessa, in turn, slayed her, it would have been less terrifying, and easier to stomach the cruelty these girls proceed to dish out over the course of the film.
I suppose the overall question is, "Why put up with it in the first place?" It's true, especially to those of us who have long since graduated high school, let alone junior high. There are a few (myself included), who didn't even much take to the idea of needing to fit in with the A crowd, even at thirteen. But there's also the painful truth that words do, in fact hurt, and we live in an age of instant communication, boasting full color Flash presentations at the press of a button. It's one thing for someone to "slut-sneeze" at you in the hallway, it's another to have an entire web domain dedicated to your each and every faults.
Odd Girl Out is a well-produced, well-directed, well-acted film. It's a shame it's only a TV movie stamped with the Lifetime Original Drama stigma that may cause most people to assume it's just another melodramatic piece starring a mom from an 80's sitcom.
If you have kids, especially in 12-16 bracket, check it out. Maybe it'll open up a little family discussion. One thing I do remember about being thirteen: You may act like you don't care what your parents think, but ultimately, it's nice to know someone's paying attention.
Pretty and popular, Vanessa Snyder is a 4.0 student with a promising future as she faces the year preceding her (middle school!) graduation. Little by little her "friends" begin to tear her down for no particular reason at all, until she can't even bear to show her face on campus, for fear of what they might say or do next.
This sounds like a standard, everyday problem for any and every teen and preteen. It is. But, as Vanessa's mother ultimately realizes, it's much more severe than people realize.
Odd Girl Out tackles the topic of verbal (and virtual) bullying. By employing word of mouth, internet messenger, and website campaigns, Vanessa's classmates violate her trust, destroy her self-esteem, and use her to their own academic benefit.
Tina Fey's Mean Girls introduces similar (comedy-based) concepts on the bullying front, featuring popular girls singling out everyone who isn't them for the express purpose of no reason at all, other than the less popular targeting the even lesser to escalate within the ranks. I'm also drawn to Nikki Reed's semi-autobiographical Thirteen as a parallel, in that it focuses on the (sometimes horribly mind-blowing) scenarios that are reality for middle-schoolers. In the case of that film and Odd Girl Out, I found myself constantly awed when the ages of the characters are brought to attention.
Alexa Vega lays the dramatic smack-down as Vanessa, showing she's got serious range beyond the comedy based kid flicks, holding her own against long time TV/movie veteran Lisa Vidal. The two have a fantastic chemistry, whether they're getting along or engaged in those all too familiar mother/daughter "leave me alone, you can't possibly understand" angry yet tearful exchanges.
Visually, this is a very stylized picture. The school scenes are very dark, with a blue filter. However, once I realized that the director, Tom McLoughlin hails from a history in horror, it all makes sense. Looking at the elements, much of Odd Girl Out feels like a horror film, and rightfully so. The girls who attack Vanessa are ultimately more horrific than many a goalie-masked, razor-fingered serial killer who's slashed his way across the screen. In fact, if one of the girls (Nikki, in particular) sprouted horns or turned into a werewolf and Vanessa, in turn, slayed her, it would have been less terrifying, and easier to stomach the cruelty these girls proceed to dish out over the course of the film.
I suppose the overall question is, "Why put up with it in the first place?" It's true, especially to those of us who have long since graduated high school, let alone junior high. There are a few (myself included), who didn't even much take to the idea of needing to fit in with the A crowd, even at thirteen. But there's also the painful truth that words do, in fact hurt, and we live in an age of instant communication, boasting full color Flash presentations at the press of a button. It's one thing for someone to "slut-sneeze" at you in the hallway, it's another to have an entire web domain dedicated to your each and every faults.
Odd Girl Out is a well-produced, well-directed, well-acted film. It's a shame it's only a TV movie stamped with the Lifetime Original Drama stigma that may cause most people to assume it's just another melodramatic piece starring a mom from an 80's sitcom.
If you have kids, especially in 12-16 bracket, check it out. Maybe it'll open up a little family discussion. One thing I do remember about being thirteen: You may act like you don't care what your parents think, but ultimately, it's nice to know someone's paying attention.
Pretty Good
rainharris5 May 2024
If you like this movie you'll love the movie Thirteen (2003). The movies follow a very similar plot line but I think Thirteen does it so much better. That's not to say I don't like this movie I think it's good at showing online bullying and how schools will ignore bullying going on just because no one is being physically harmed. As a movie it's entertaining and I think Alexa Penavega does a very good job showing the characters pain but no one does a better job than Lisa Vidal who plays the mom. She plays the stress of the situation very realistically and it's heart breaking to watch.
So if you think this movie sounds interesting I'd suggest watching Thirteen after.
So if you think this movie sounds interesting I'd suggest watching Thirteen after.
Dramatic, yet good
Devil_Eyes4 April 2005
Apart from the annoying camera and irritating lighting, the movie was okay. It did portray gossip and bullies well, but went overboard. The girls went too far with the ridicule. Girls do gossip and talk about each other, but they would not go as far as they did in the movie. It becomes unbelievable.
Alexa Vega is amazing. I never did like Alexa based on her other films, but she was incredible in this. She shows her emotions well and you really feel sorry for her character. As for the bullies, they do well and are extremely mean.
Even though the movie stretches it a bit, I believe it is still good to watch to understand the problems with middle school and high school.
Alexa Vega is amazing. I never did like Alexa based on her other films, but she was incredible in this. She shows her emotions well and you really feel sorry for her character. As for the bullies, they do well and are extremely mean.
Even though the movie stretches it a bit, I believe it is still good to watch to understand the problems with middle school and high school.
Terrifying, tragic tale of adolescent cruelty
lauraeileen89417 April 2007
The very overrated 2004 flick "Mean Girls" was praised by critics for its "biting" and "accurate" portrayal of clique-y high school girls. Please, "Mean Girls" is so tame, so glossy it should have been called "'Valley Girl' with PMS". Just a year after "Mean Girls"'s release, Lifetime released "Odd Girl Out", a terrifying tragic tale of adolescent cruelty. Based on Rachel Simmons's nonfiction book of the same name, "Odd Girl Out" is a stylized but painfully realistic look at how teenage girls will attack each other not with four-letter words or fists, but with rumors, dirty looks, and any form of underhanded bullying. "Odd Girl Out" reveals the 21st century's newest form of torment: cyber-bullying.
Our protagonist Vanessa (Alexa Vega, "Spy Kids") is an A-student comfortably situated in her popular clique of friends. When fair weather friend Niki (played by appropriately unattractive Elizabeth Rice) becomes jealous of Vanessa's social standing, she decides to take her down a peg by turning Vanessa's shallow best friend Stacy (Leah Pipes) against her and spreading hateful rumors and gossip. Gossip turns into thinly veiled insults ("That tray looks really heavy," one girl sneers at Vanessa during lunch), which in turn become relentless abuse (a web site dedicated to insulting Vanessa is put up). Vanessa tries her best to ignore this undeserved mistreatment, but the emotional pain becomes too much for her to bear. Vanessa's self-esteem and life begin to crumble, and her mother (Lisa Vidal) desperately struggles to help her anguished daughter.
As someone who was picked on (albeit not as badly) in middle school, I must say this movie is right on the mark. This is really how middle school girls behave: they'll simply choose their victim and attack at random. No rhyme, no reason, they are driven by their own self-absorption and insecurities. I'll admit it, "Odd Girl Out" made me cry for myself, for poor Vanessa, and anyone else who was victimized at that age. Vega is astonishingly good as Vanessa, who is forced to go through pure hell scene after scene. You really see the desperation and loneliness reflected in her sad brown eyes. Vidal is also in fine form as Vanessa's loving but somewhat clueless mom. Rice, Pipes, and Alecia Moore are realistic as the pack of former friends who torture Vanessa.
Some people complain that "Odd Girl Out" plays too much like a horror movie. Anyone who agrees with that sentiment obviously never attended public middle school.
Our protagonist Vanessa (Alexa Vega, "Spy Kids") is an A-student comfortably situated in her popular clique of friends. When fair weather friend Niki (played by appropriately unattractive Elizabeth Rice) becomes jealous of Vanessa's social standing, she decides to take her down a peg by turning Vanessa's shallow best friend Stacy (Leah Pipes) against her and spreading hateful rumors and gossip. Gossip turns into thinly veiled insults ("That tray looks really heavy," one girl sneers at Vanessa during lunch), which in turn become relentless abuse (a web site dedicated to insulting Vanessa is put up). Vanessa tries her best to ignore this undeserved mistreatment, but the emotional pain becomes too much for her to bear. Vanessa's self-esteem and life begin to crumble, and her mother (Lisa Vidal) desperately struggles to help her anguished daughter.
As someone who was picked on (albeit not as badly) in middle school, I must say this movie is right on the mark. This is really how middle school girls behave: they'll simply choose their victim and attack at random. No rhyme, no reason, they are driven by their own self-absorption and insecurities. I'll admit it, "Odd Girl Out" made me cry for myself, for poor Vanessa, and anyone else who was victimized at that age. Vega is astonishingly good as Vanessa, who is forced to go through pure hell scene after scene. You really see the desperation and loneliness reflected in her sad brown eyes. Vidal is also in fine form as Vanessa's loving but somewhat clueless mom. Rice, Pipes, and Alecia Moore are realistic as the pack of former friends who torture Vanessa.
Some people complain that "Odd Girl Out" plays too much like a horror movie. Anyone who agrees with that sentiment obviously never attended public middle school.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
