A student short, this film could have really gone off the rails easily. But instead, it just leaves everyone in the audience smiling and thinking about their own "first love" in elementary school, and the travails of love since. Not pretentious or overly artsy, this film really connects with the audience and has us laughing all along the way. We squirm in our seats and want to shout, "NO!" in exactly the right points, all the while cheering on the main character "Cameron," played perfectly by the young Jake Nutty. It's also a fun glimpse into the early work of Hailee Steinfeld (who creates a stand-out character in True Grit alongside cinema greats like Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, and Josh Brolin... no small order!). This film has real heart and sincerity. It's not your typical dark, brooding, conceptually deep independent film, but it's a real crowd- pleaser that leaves the audience in a lighter, happier place than they were 18 minutes previously.
6 Reviews
A little derivative but still charming and very well filmed in place and time
bob the moo18 March 2014
She's a Fox I guess is a pretty personal film for Cameron Sawyer; not only does he write and direct the piece, but as narrator he also puts himself in the position of being the adult version of the character we see. In the film we see a young boy so taken by a girl that he decides to take the leap out of childish things and make a play for her at whatever cost. The result is a film that plays too much like an episode of The Wonder Years and many other films for its own good, but still does enough well to carry it through the comparison.
What it does well is mostly have charm in the writing and delivery – I didn't find it hilarious but I did find it engagingly sweet and pleasing throughout. The delivery is loaded with references and a sense of time and place, with very good costumes, haircut, music and the actual look and feel of the film – very late 80's. The performances fit this too, which is good from a cast of almost all children and teenagers. The plot ultimately satisfies by having a realistic air to it and I did enjoy it for what it does well and, although it does tip its hat to too many other genre films and shows, it is to its credit that it is a comparison it can stand to have made.
What it does well is mostly have charm in the writing and delivery – I didn't find it hilarious but I did find it engagingly sweet and pleasing throughout. The delivery is loaded with references and a sense of time and place, with very good costumes, haircut, music and the actual look and feel of the film – very late 80's. The performances fit this too, which is good from a cast of almost all children and teenagers. The plot ultimately satisfies by having a realistic air to it and I did enjoy it for what it does well and, although it does tip its hat to too many other genre films and shows, it is to its credit that it is a comparison it can stand to have made.
Hilarious Short film
mookiemills1 February 2011
This is one of those short films that you really wish was and hour and a half instead of 20 minutes. Totally funny, but without trying too hard. It was fun to see an even younger Hailee Steinfeld (before True Grit fame) as the cute girl at school. Great overall cast and directed very well for a first timer.
She's a Fox had that intangible quality of being completely honest without being preachy. I mean rarely in film is there a person who needs help that goes to God, usually in Hollywood they always confide in the all too convenient eccentric best friend played by unattractive character actors. Yet the film was never trying to shove some message down my throat, but just implied that there are still people that believe in God that aren't psychopaths.
This is a great little film that is laugh out loud funny. Don't miss it.
She's a Fox had that intangible quality of being completely honest without being preachy. I mean rarely in film is there a person who needs help that goes to God, usually in Hollywood they always confide in the all too convenient eccentric best friend played by unattractive character actors. Yet the film was never trying to shove some message down my throat, but just implied that there are still people that believe in God that aren't psychopaths.
This is a great little film that is laugh out loud funny. Don't miss it.
The cutest young love tale ever.
cnycitylady10 July 2013
This short film is beyond words adorable. You cannot help but smile from start to finish. The characters are well developed in the short time allotted and you really vote for the young romance.
It is very 'Wonder Years' in its make-up, but it utilizes it in the absolute best way possible. Jake Nutty is endearing as the young boy who tries to woo the girl of his dreams and Hailee Steinfeld is perfect as the girl who has captured his attention and affection. Even the minor characters like the boyfriend or the gang are well put together. The soundtrack is charming and the setting and time period work wonders for the mini movie. The only negative thing I have to say about it is that I wish it were longer; 10 minutes, 20, hell give me another hour. It is so enchanting that anyone would have sat through it.
This very well may be the best short about young love ever. 9/10
It is very 'Wonder Years' in its make-up, but it utilizes it in the absolute best way possible. Jake Nutty is endearing as the young boy who tries to woo the girl of his dreams and Hailee Steinfeld is perfect as the girl who has captured his attention and affection. Even the minor characters like the boyfriend or the gang are well put together. The soundtrack is charming and the setting and time period work wonders for the mini movie. The only negative thing I have to say about it is that I wish it were longer; 10 minutes, 20, hell give me another hour. It is so enchanting that anyone would have sat through it.
This very well may be the best short about young love ever. 9/10
Generic high school movie that is really only known because of one cast member
Horst_In_Translation13 January 2017
Warning: Spoilers
"She's a Fox" is an American short film from 2009 that runs for 18 minutes and was written and directed by Cameron Sawyer who is also the narrator in here. It is very obvious that this little movie is mostly known today because of one name: Hailee Steinfeld, who was recently Golden Globe nominated and is also an Oscar nominee from a couple years back. In this one here, she plays the love interest to the protagonist, the girl of his dreams, so yes this is basically a generic high school (comedy) movie. The lead actor I am not sure if he was good enough to be cast for the main character and Steinfeld's character was sadly very generic and had almost no material to work with, certainly none that fit her talent. The story was okay, nothing special, nothing bad I guess. The good thing was maybe the use of music. Overall, this is a relatively underwhelming work though and I am not surprised why neither Nutty nor Sawyer managed a breakthrough. I'd give it a thumbs-down. Not recommended, even if it is very true that Hailee Steinfeld is an absolute fox. Without her name attached to it, this one would have been completely forgotten I'm sure.
Too Sweet For This Bitter Man
Theo Robertson27 March 2014
Cameron Sawyer wrote this screenplay . He also directed it . He also provides the voice over for Jake Nutty's character who is called Cameron Sawyer . Would I be correct in thinking this might be a short bio-pic on someone called Cameron Sawyer ? It's set in 1987 when the character of Cameron Sawyer becomes interested in girls . I do notice the real life biography of Cameron Sawyer doesn't give his year of birth but would I be right in thinking it might have been 1973 or 1974 ? My spidey senses are tingling
I've never been a fan of these " sweet " coming of age tales .which obviously puts me in a minority so small I could possibly be labelled unique in that sense . Mr Sawyer does use a stylistic tool common in cinema in 1987 and that is a contemporary soundtrack which if like me you can remember the 1980s as a teenager it seemed that the most important aspect of a film was the soundtrack . In fact looking back the average 80s film was a 90 minute for the soundtrack which was available in all good record stores and if someone saw a film back then they wouldn't have to tell you the title or the star they'd just tell you what the hit single was so need to mention TOP GUN or Tom Cruise just mention Take My Breath Away by Berlin and everyone knew what the film was . I don't to consult Wikipedia to realise Cameron has committed a massive blunder in using I Ran by Flock Of Seagulls which was a hit in 1982 and not 1987 . A deliberate mistake ? Maybe Cameron didn't want anyone to think this was a biopic ?
I've never been a fan of these " sweet " coming of age tales .which obviously puts me in a minority so small I could possibly be labelled unique in that sense . Mr Sawyer does use a stylistic tool common in cinema in 1987 and that is a contemporary soundtrack which if like me you can remember the 1980s as a teenager it seemed that the most important aspect of a film was the soundtrack . In fact looking back the average 80s film was a 90 minute for the soundtrack which was available in all good record stores and if someone saw a film back then they wouldn't have to tell you the title or the star they'd just tell you what the hit single was so need to mention TOP GUN or Tom Cruise just mention Take My Breath Away by Berlin and everyone knew what the film was . I don't to consult Wikipedia to realise Cameron has committed a massive blunder in using I Ran by Flock Of Seagulls which was a hit in 1982 and not 1987 . A deliberate mistake ? Maybe Cameron didn't want anyone to think this was a biopic ?
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