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FILM REVIEW: Little

NNPA NEWSWIRE — … only one artist can take credit for turning a seed of an idea into a bona-fide comedy, and that’s Marsai Martin. When obstacles were placed in front of her, she broke through them. She took on a challenging role and nailed it. The camera catches all of her weird facial expressions and mannerisms. Her comic timing is impeccable. She knows when to clown around, be demure, introspective and direct. This is a big first step in what should be a promising film career.

Published

8 years ago

April 12, 2019

Oakland Post

By Dwight Brown NNPA News Wire Film Critic

Regina Hall as Jordan Sanders in Little, co-written and directed by Tina Gordon.

Littleis a guilty pleasure. The guilt comes as you watch a 14-year-old actress (Marsai Martin, Black-ish) behaving like a lustful 38-year-old female who flirts with a middle school teacher.It’s kinda pervy. Or when an executive assistant (Issa Rae, HBO’s Insecure) points to her nether regions and gives aman a sexy stare. Fine for adults to see, but do tweens need to look at that? The pure pleasure comes when you laugh at the extremely funny and very animated performances by Martin, Rae and the incomparable Regina Hall. The sisters are crae-crae!

How did all this come about? Word is Martin viewed the Tom Hanks trans-age movie Big(a kid in a grownup’s body) with her parents. She thought it would be cool to reverse the situation and have an adult in in a teen’s body. She approached her agent with her novel idea. He or she balked, as they often do, and Martin fired the agent and got her project on the road. Hence her executive producer credit—at age 14!!!!!!And what were you doing in your tween years?

It’s a simple set-up. Jordan Sanders (Hall) runs her own tech company. Her management style is somewhere between Hitler’s and Idi Amin’s, only she’s less kind. Prissy, exacting, bossy, negative and a dream-killer. She makes everyone suffer. Staff, valet, even the baristas at Starbucks cower in her presence. Her assistant April (Rae) is right in the line of fire. No matter how attentive April can be, it’s never fast or good enough for the very successful and egocentric Jordan. But as they say, karma is a little b—-.

One day in her office’s parking lot, Jordan goes off on a little girl named Stevie (Marley Taylor), an amateur magician who is the daughter of a food truck vendor. The intimidating boss screams at the diminutive tyke, “Check you Boo!!!” But Stevie gives back what she gets. They’re in a standoff, like the Wicked Witch of the West and Dorothy ready to rumble. Then Stevie takes out her magic wand, swirls it around and hurls a curse: “I wish you were little!” Not long after, the evil and older executive wakes up one morning as a 13-year-old girl (Martin). She tries to berate and intimidate like she used to, but the people she encounters are not scared anymore.

(from left) Mr. Marshall (Justin Hartley), little Jordan Sanders (Marsai Martin) and April Williams (Issa Rae) in Little, co-written and directed by Tina Gordon.

If you’re looking for something profound and extraordinary from this formulaic script by Tracy Oliver (Girls Trip) and Tina Gordon (What Men Wantand TV’s ATL), you will be disappointed. If you’re just out for a lark, jump onboard and enjoy the laughs. The characters are modern, urban and living large. The sexy dialogue and inferences just hit the top of the film’s PG-13 rating.

There are sight gags (Martin in clothes too big) and awkward moments (little Jordan pawing big Jordan’s boyfriend). Work humor (the creative meetings skewer office dynamics). Love interests: Luke James (Star) as Jordan’s constantly shirtless boytoy Trevor; Tone Bell (Whitney) as April’s unrequited love; and Justin Hartley (TV’s This Is Us) as the school teacher being ogled by a kid.

All the elements of a decent comedy are in place and director/co-writer Tina Gordon is quite adept at working this female-driven story into a pleasant experience. Though what’s on view is sexy at times, it never reaches the outer limits of Girls Trip. Though some may deem this as a paint-by-numbers film, it’s a bit less predictable than the similar but inferior What Men Want, which also had a female executive character who lived in Atlanta.

When things lag, it’s the woman in a kid’s body gag that helps the film keep an edge. Gordon is great at milking spirited performances out of the entire cast. Her direction is not too stagey, though this does feel more like a Netflix or cable movie than a theatrical release. Still, thanks to her interpretation of the material, the film is likely to attract and partially please female viewers (they’ll like the romance and the woman’s world approach) and young teens (little Jordan deals with everyday school problems and they’ll be amused by her naughty nature).

(from left) Little Jordan Sanders (Marsai Martin) and April Williams (Issa Rae) in Little, co-written and directed by Tina Gordon.

The normal background white-noise music (Germaine Franco) seems dull. However, when real songs kick in, the musical choices seem hip. Don’t know how Danielle Hollowell picked or created the over-the-top and brightly colored costumes, but they are a standout. Particularly Martin’s over-sized, window-paned pink suit and Rae’s borrowed gold skirt. The outfits scream contemporary Atlanta. Also of note, the cinematography by Greg Gardiner (Girls Trip, Night School) lights the cast’s divergent complexions perfectly. Everyone looks great, like they should be doing a magazine spread.

Given a premise that is novel but not new, a script that is worthy but not stellar and a location (Atlanta) this is overused, the cast succeeds regardless. Regina Hall is marking her territory. She is a gifted comic actress and her mood swings from mean to meaner to meanest are hysterically funny. She’s a go-to comic actress. The dour Rae makes Hall’s perfect foil. The guys—James, Bell and Hartley—are up to the task. Cameos by SNL’s Mikey Day as the selfish client Connor and Rachel Dratch as a truant officer are humor filled.

However, only one artist can take credit for turning a seed of an idea into a bona-fide comedy, and that’s Marsai Martin. When obstacles were placed in front of her, she broke through them. She took on a challenging role and nailed it. The camera catches all of her weird facial expressions and mannerisms. Her comic timing is impeccable. She knows when to clown around, be demure, introspective and direct. This is a big first step in what should be a promising film career.

If you feel a little uncomfortable when little Jordan winks at her teacher or cozies up to big Jordan’s lover, you aren’t alone. If the scenes of April administering a spanking to a teen make you queasy, it’s because they should. But know that Martin, Hall and Rae will make you laugh your ass off, even as you’re calling child protective services.

Visit NNPA News Wire Film Critic Dwight Brown at DwightBrownInk.comand BlackPressUSA.com.

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Car suspension test demonstrating a smooth ride, comfort features, and handling on various terrains.

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61 years since Selma, Houston leaders say the bridge remains to be crossed

61 years after Selma, Houston leaders say the fight for equality continues. The issues that sparked the marches still impact Black Americans today.

Published

1 month ago

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Oakland Post

Houston leaders discuss the ongoing struggle for civil rights 61 years after Selma, emphasizing the need for continued action.

It has been 61 years since the Selma marches. But political leaders in Houston say that the issues protesters were marching for still plague the lives of Black Americans.

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Here is what you need to know about finding unique white elephant gift ideas that everyone wants to steal

The best white elephant gift ideas are funny enough to get a reaction but useful enough that people actually want to steal them. Look for gifts with a surprise factor, broad appeal, an inside joke, and just enough personality to spark some friendly competition. The wrapping paper comes off, the room goes quiet for half […]

Published

1 month ago

October 4, 2026

Oakland Post

The best white elephant gift ideas are funny enough to get a reaction but useful enough that people actually want to steal them. Look for gifts with a surprise factor, broad appeal, an inside joke, and just enough personality to spark some friendly competition.

The wrapping paper comes off, the room goes quiet for half a second, and suddenly everyone wants the same gift. That is the sweet spot. A great white elephant pick should make people laugh, lean in, and start plotting their next steal before the turn is even over.

Should a White Elephant Gift Be Funny or Useful?

A white elephant gift can be funny or useful, but the strongest choices usually give people a reason to laugh and a reason to keep the item. A practical gift with an odd design, unexpected feature, or playful theme can get a reaction without becoming something the recipient immediately wants to give away.

The right balance depends on the group. Close friends and family members may enjoy a ridiculous gag gift because they already understand one another’s sense of humor.

A workplace exchange, neighborhood party, or mixed-age gathering usually calls for something with broader appeal. In those settings, humor works better when it is built into an item people could still use afterward.

It also helps to think about how quickly the gift will make sense once it is opened. A strangely shaped kitchen tool, oversized mug, quirky desk accessory, or unexpectedly fancy everyday item can create an immediate reaction. Guests understand the joke right away, while the item still has enough practical value to attract a steal.

Pure gag gifts can be harder to pull off. Something that exists only for the punchline may get a big laugh during the reveal and then sit untouched for the rest of the game. If the goal is to bring one of the gifts everyone keeps fighting over, usefulness gives the joke staying power.

Memorable Present Ideas: Creating Inside Joke Gifts

Inside joke gifts can make a white elephant exchange feel much more personal, especially when most of the group shares the same stories. The trick is choosing a reference that people will recognize quickly instead of building the entire joke around something only two guests understand.

You can turn a memorable vacation mishap, office catchphrase, family story, or long-running group joke into the theme of the gift. A personalized comic book can work especially well when it turns familiar people or a ridiculous shared moment into part of the story.

Think carefully about who the joke involves before ordering anything permanent. The gift should make the person feel included in the fun, not singled out for the wrong reason.

Can You Bring Something You Already Own?

Holiday gift exchanges can be a good place to re-gift something you never used, especially if it is unopened and clean.

The following can all work if they still look presentable:

A duplicate kitchen gadget
An untouched game
A decorative item
A sealed gift set
An unopened candle
A new travel accessory

The goal is to give the item a second chance, not use the exchange as an excuse to clear out damaged or unwanted clutter.

Take a close look at the packaging before wrapping it. Faded boxes, missing pieces, visible wear, or anything that looks obviously used can make the gift feel careless.

Wrapping Budget-Friendly Gifts

Wrapping can make gifts more entertaining before anyone even knows what’s inside.

Misdirection works especially well for fun party games. Put a small gift inside a much larger box. Use packaging from an unrelated household item.

Add harmless weight so guests cannot guess what they are holding. The reveal becomes part of the joke without changing the gift itself.

You can also lean into the theme of the exchange. Bright paper, oversized bows, reusable bags, or deliberately over-the-top wrapping can make an ordinary item feel more memorable. If the gift itself is already funny, simple wrapping may work better so the surprise stays hidden until the last second.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Picking Last an Advantage in White Elephant?

Picking last can be an advantage because you get to see almost every gift before making your move. Instead of choosing blindly from the remaining wrapped presents, you can steal something that has already caught your attention if the rules still allow it.

That advantage depends on the house rules. Some games limit how many times a gift can be stolen.

Others lock an item once it reaches a certain number of steals. If the most popular gifts are already unavailable, the final player may have fewer strong options than expected.

The first player can also get another turn at the end in some versions of the game. That rule can balance things out, since the person who started with the least information may get one final chance to steal.

How Do You Plan White Elephant for a Large Group?

For a large white elephant exchange, set a firm spending limit and establish the stealing rules in advance.

Create a clear turn order before the game begins. Drawing numbers as guests arrive can save time once everyone is ready to start.

Keep the number of steals per gift limited so the game does not drag on. It also helps to have one person track which creative holiday presents have been stolen and when they are locked, especially if dozens of people are participating.

Can You Play White Elephant Virtually?

A virtual white elephant exchange can work over a video call, with one person keeping track of the turn order and each steal. Guests can either mail physical gifts ahead of time or use digital gifts that can be delivered once the game ends.

Set the spending limit and stealing rules before everyone joins. It also helps to decide how gifts will be revealed and who is responsible for sending each one afterward so the exchange does not become confusing.