Honestly, if you grew up in the nineties, you probably can't hear the song "My Girl" without feeling a weird, heavy lump in your throat. It’s that immediate. We are talking about mi primer beso pelicula—known as My Girl in the original English—a movie that basically traumatized an entire generation under the guise of a sweet coming-of-age story.
It’s a weird one.
On the surface, it looks like a standard childhood romance. You've got Vada Sultenfuss, a hypochondriac 11-year-old obsessed with death, and Thomas J. Sennett, the boy who is "allergic to everything." But beneath the summer vibes and the bike rides, this film is a brutal exploration of grief, mortality, and the end of innocence. It didn't pull any punches. It still doesn't.
The Macabre Reality of Vada Sultenfuss
Vada, played by Anna Chlumsky in a performance that should have probably won more awards than it did, lives in a funeral home. That is the first thing you have to wrap your head around. Her father, Harry (Dan Aykroyd), is an undertaker. Her mother died giving birth to her. This isn't just a quirky character trait; it is the fundamental engine of the movie.
Vada is convinced she’s dying. Every week, she has a new ailment. A chicken bone stuck in her throat. Prostate cancer (yes, she actually thinks she has it). It’s funny, sure, but it’s also deeply sad. She is a child surrounded by the literal machinery of death, trying to make sense of a mother she never knew and a father who is emotionally checked out.
Then comes Shelly. Jamie Lee Curtis plays the makeup artist who joins the funeral home staff and eventually catches Harry’s eye. This disrupts Vada’s world. She’s jealous, she’s confused, and she’s entering that terrifying "tween" phase where your body and your brain start acting like strangers.
Why mi primer beso pelicula Broke the Rules
Most kids' movies in 1991 were safe. They had happy endings. They had lessons that were wrapped up with a neat little bow by the 90-minute mark. Mi primer beso pelicula decided to go a different route. It decided to be honest.
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The friendship between Vada and Thomas J. (Macaulay Culkin) is the heart of the film. It’s pure. They’re outcasts. Thomas J. isn't the cool kid; he’s the kid who gets teased. Vada isn't the popular girl; she’s the "freak" who hangs out at the doctor's office. Their bond is built on being misunderstood.
And then, the bees.
We have to talk about the bees. It’s the scene everyone remembers. Thomas J. goes back to the woods to find Vada’s lost mood ring—a gesture of pure, unadulterated childhood love. He kicks a beehive. He’s allergic.
He doesn't make it.
I remember seeing this for the first time and thinking, "Wait, they can't do that." But they did. Howard Zieff, the director, and Laurice Elehwany, the writer, made the choice to kill off the most innocent character in the movie. It was a cultural reset for anyone under the age of twelve. It taught us that sometimes, being good and being kind isn't enough to save you.
The Impact of the Funeral Scene
The "He needs his glasses" scene. You know the one. If you haven't seen it, brace yourself. Vada running into the funeral service, looking at Thomas J. in the casket, and screaming that he can't see without his glasses... it’s arguably one of the most devastating moments in cinema history.
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Why does it work? Because it’s grounded in child logic. Children don't understand the finality of death in the way adults do. They focus on the practical. The glasses. The coldness. Chlumsky’s delivery in that scene is visceral. It doesn't feel like acting. It feels like a child’s world collapsing in real-time.
Behind the Scenes: Casting and Chemistry
It’s easy to forget how big of a deal Macaulay Culkin was in 1991. He was fresh off Home Alone. He was the biggest child star on the planet. Casting him as the sidekick who dies was a massive risk. People went to the theater expecting Home Alone with bikes, and instead, they got a meditation on bereavement.
Anna Chlumsky was a newcomer. She had this incredible ability to look both world-weary and completely vulnerable at the same time. The chemistry between her and Culkin was organic. They felt like real friends who had spent every summer afternoon together since they were five.
Dan Aykroyd and Jamie Lee Curtis provided the adult anchor. Aykroyd, known for comedy, played Harry with a quiet, repressed sadness that made his eventual breakdown even more impactful. Curtis brought a much-needed warmth and vibrancy to the "death house," acting as the catalyst for Vada finally finding her voice.
The Soundtrack and Aesthetic
The film is set in 1972, and the aesthetic is baked into every frame. The warm, golden-hour lighting. The flared pants. The iconic soundtrack.
Music plays a huge role in mi primer beso pelicula. It’s not just background noise. The song "My Girl" by The Temptations became synonymous with the film, but the use of "Wedding Bell Blues" and "Bad Moon Rising" also helps ground the story in its era. It feels nostalgic, even if you weren't alive in 1972. It captures that specific feeling of a long, hot summer where everything feels like it’s about to change.
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Lasting Cultural Legacy
Even decades later, this movie holds up. It’s frequently cited in discussions about the best coming-of-age films, alongside Stand By Me and The Florida Project.
It deals with topics that are still relevant:
- Childhood grief and how we explain it to kids.
- The complexity of blended families.
- The transition from childhood to adolescence (the "first kiss" itself).
- Mental health and hypochondria as a coping mechanism.
There was a sequel, My Girl 2, but honestly? Most fans choose to ignore it. It lacked the raw emotional honesty of the first one. It tried to recapture the magic by sending Vada to Los Angeles, but the stakes just didn't feel the same. The first movie was a lightning-in-a-bottle moment.
How to Revisit the Film Today
If you’re planning on rewatching mi primer beso pelicula, or showing it to your own kids for the first time, there are a few things to keep in mind.
First, have the tissues ready. That’s a given. But more importantly, use it as a conversation starter. The film is a great tool for talking about loss. It doesn't sugarcoat things. It shows that it’s okay to be angry, it’s okay to be confused, and it’s okay to scream at a funeral if that’s what you need to do.
Check the streaming platforms—it’s frequently on Netflix or Amazon Prime. In some regions, it’s listed under its Spanish title, Mi primer beso, while in others, it stays as My Girl.
Actionable Insights for Fans and New Viewers
- Watch the subtle details: Pay attention to how the house changes after Shelly moves in. The colors get brighter. The atmosphere shifts from stagnant to alive.
- Research the era: If you're a film buff, look into how the 1972 setting influenced the cinematography. The use of soft focus and natural light was a deliberate choice to evoke "memory."
- Listen to the score: Beyond the pop hits, James Newton Howard’s original score is a masterclass in emotional subtlety.
- Prepare for the ending: If you are showing this to a child, be prepared to answer questions. Don't hide the reality of what happens to Thomas J. The movie is designed to be a "safe" way to experience those big, scary feelings.
Mi primer beso pelicula isn't just a movie about a kiss. It’s a movie about the exact moment you realize the world is bigger, scarier, and more beautiful than you thought. It’s about the scars we carry and the people who help us heal them. It remains a definitive piece of nineties cinema because it had the courage to be sad.
To get the most out of your next viewing, try watching it back-to-back with Stand By Me. Both films tackle the loss of innocence in ways that feel painfully real, even years after the credits roll. They remind us that while the "firsts" in our lives—the first kiss, the first loss—are often the most painful, they are also the things that make us human.