Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It (2021)
95%RT Audience Score: 93%
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins & 7 nominations
An affecting profile of screen legend Rita Moreno, Just a Girl is at once a sharp critique of the industry’s crushing inequities and a beautiful homage to an artist who never backed down despite the odds.
Rita Moreno: Just A Girl Who Decided To Go For It is a documentary that will make you want to stand up and applaud this incredible woman. At 89 years old, Moreno is still a force to be reckoned with, radiating star charisma and vitality. The film is a fascinating study of a true trailblazer, and Moreno’s transparent and energetic spirit shines through every scene. Sure, it may be a bit of a vanity project, but who cares? Moreno deserves to bask in the spotlight and receive all the flowers Hollywood has to offer. Don’t miss this inspiring and entertaining documentary!
Production Company(ies)
Act III Productions, Artemis Rising Foundation Maramara Films,
Distributor
Roadside Attractions
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for mature thematic content, some strong language including a sexual reference, and suggestive material.
Year of Release
2021
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Stereo
-
Aspect ratio:16:9 HD
-
Runtime:1h 30m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jun 18, 2021 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 16, 2021
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
Rita Moreno, documentary, EGOT, Academy Award, West Side Story, Hollywood, sexism, abuse, Marlon Brando, depression, Puerto Rican, immigrant, Broadway, ethnic minority, screen legend, producer, Brent Miller, Mariem Pérez Riera, director, Mariem Pérez Riera, critic, reviewed by Emma Fraser, Leslie Felperin, Claudia Puig, Adam Graham, Justin Chang, Tatiana Tenreyro, Cody Dericks, David Reddish, Matthew Pejkovic, Brian Viner, Michael Clark, Betty Jo Tucker, PG-13, box office, gross USA, budget, Roadside Attractions, MPAA rating, documentary, English, stereo, sound mix, starring Rita Moreno, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Norman Lear, George Chakiris, Morgan Freeman, Eva Longoria, producer, directed by Mariem Pérez Riera, written by Mariem Pérez Riera
Worldwide gross: $264,626
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $287,809
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,861
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 31,386
US/Canada gross: $264,626
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $287,809
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,469
US/Canada opening weekend: $84,366
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $91,757
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,963
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Lin-Manuel Miranda – Self
Norman Lear – Self
George Chakiris – Self
Morgan Freeman – Self
Eva Longoria – Self
Director(s)
Mariem Pérez Riera
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Brent Miller, Mariem Pérez Riera,
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 7 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (112) | Top Critics (25) | Fresh (107) | Rotten (5)
Hollywood still has much work to do, but Moreno rightly gets her flowers.
December 6, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Emma Fraser
Little White Lies
TOP CRITIC
Overall, she emerges just as vampish, feisty and fun as you’d expect, and as a gracious giver of speeches at ceremonies where she collects endless lifetime achievement awards, her biggest side-hustle next to acting.
December 1, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
Leslie Felperin
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
The documentary is rich in archival clips, but mostly it’s just rich in her — and Moreno is tons of fun.
June 22, 2021
Claudia Puig
FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)
TOP CRITIC
Director Mariem Pérez Riera never gets in the way of her subject and lets viewers feel Moreno’s spirit, her vibrancy and her energy.
June 21, 2021 | Rating: B+
Adam Graham
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
Even in a film that makes no bones about presenting its subject in a flattering, softening light, this 89-year-old stage and screen legend has refreshingly few qualms about saying exactly what she thinks.
June 21, 2021
Justin Chang
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
The new documentary Rita Moreno: Just A Girl Who Decided To Go For It reiterates many of those anecdotes, but it doesn’t tell us much that Moreno hasn’t divulged already in her 2013 memoir or in countless interviews over the years.
June 21, 2021 | Rating: C+
Tatiana Tenreyro
AV Club
TOP CRITIC
Its title may seem overly lengthy, but by the end of the film, it’s clear why that phrase truly applies to Moreno.
July 7, 2022 | Rating: 7/10
Cody Dericks
Next Best Picture
At 89, Morenos petite frame still radiates star charisma and vitality. Viewers will come away from this film feeling like Moreno didnt just live life; she earned it.
March 13, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
David Reddish
Queerty
Works due to the transparent and energetic spirit of Moreno herself.
February 1, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/5
Matthew Pejkovic
Matt’s Movie Reviews
A fascinating study of a remarkable woman, a true trailblazer.
December 10, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Brian Viner
Daily Mail (UK)
Starting with the opening scene where Moreno is planning her own annual themed birthday party, it doesn’t take long to figure out the film is going to be more of a vanity project than a warts-and-all objective analysis.
October 25, 2021 | Rating: 2.5/5
Michael Clark
Epoch Times
You’ll be entranced with everything. Family, talents, and acting. The most revealing I have seen. I loved it all. Don’t miss a scene!
October 18, 2021
Betty Jo Tucker
ReelTalk Movie Reviews…
Plot
Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It is a documentary about the life and career of Rita Moreno, who overcame poverty, racism, and sexism to become a celebrated and beloved actor and the first Latina actress to win an Academy Award.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Rita Moreno is one of the rare EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) Award Winners of our time.
Mariem-Pérez-Riera.jpg
