The Book of StarsBased on the interesting premise of a teenage girl who appears younger than her real age because of her sickness, but doesn't deliver to satisfying extent due to "chick movie" approach, low budget, and mediocre script.
Jena plays Mary McGuire, who is in her own words "soon sixteen," but
physically three years younger because of her sickness, cystic fibrosis.
Her only family is her sister Penny, some ten years older, who brings food
into their table by working as a prostitute. She's an intelligent woman,
who has published a poetry book a number of years ago, and such work, which
she doesn't enjoy, wouldn't be her only option.
Mentally Mary is of her actual age, or more. Her health doesn't allow her
to go out much and meet people, so when a mysterious man from a far-away
land moves next to them, she's quick to invite him over. Another man in the
life of the sisters is an inmate, who writes Penny a letter about her
poetry book. Penny doesn't want to write back, as she doesn't want to let
herself become close with anyone except her sister. Mary replies, however,
pretending to be her big sister.
Though gloomy and harsh, this is essentially a chick movie, and much of the
events and characters only makes sense from that perspective. In the center
is the love triangle between the sisters and their neighbor. Mary's burden
is her appearance of a child, while Penny has to watch her little sister
flirt with the man that Penny can't let herself have.
 The interesting property of Jena's character – her appearance being
significantly less than her age – isn't explored to its full potential.
It's mainly used as a component in the budding romance, which is a shame.
Mary is a gentle and considerate girl, more so than your average almost
13-year-old would be, but it's not sufficiently obvious that she's mentally
older than her appearance.
Jena's acting isn't bad, but neither is it her best performance. The budget
has clearly been low, and there are no particularly attractive looking or
sounding scenes. This is a small movie that will appeal to some, but me it
left luke warm.
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The Book of Stars |
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![[bio]](/images/common/biography.png "More about Jena"){kind=small}
