For some reason many coming-of-age movies are about boys (probably because most directors are men), but the girls get their chance to come over all touchy-feely in this drama set during the summer of 1970. Tomboy Roberta (Ricci), bra-stuffing flirt Teeny (Birch), tubby Chrissy (Ashleigh Aston Moore) and occult-obsessed Samantha (Gaby Hoffmann) have the whole holidays to be friends, hold seances and discover boys. They also pledge to be there for each other for ever, which leads to a present-day reunion, with the starry cast of Melanie Griffith (Teeny), Demi Moore (Samantha), Rita Wilson (Chrissy) and Rosie O’Donnell (Roberta) taking the grown-up roles.
The sequences with the adults are missable, but the teen story is quite cute, and there are good performances from the girls. It’s just not that interesting though (despite a recluse named Crazy Pete wandering the streets at night just looking for a plot twist), and while it was described as a female version of Stand By Me at the time, it lacks much of that film’s tension, warmth and heart.
Is Now And Then suitable for kids? Here are our parents’ notes...
There is a scene in which one girl nearly drowns in a sewer pipe that is a little scary.
If you like this, why not try: The Sisterhood Of The Travelling Pants, Stand By Me, Anita And Me, Crossroads, I Capture The Castle,