I'm not saying older films are bad, I love them. I love My Bloody Valentine, which also came out in 1981, but there's a difference between a fictional horror film and a film where real issues and treatments are discussed. Methods to treat mental illnesses and/or addictions are far different today than they were ten, twenty, thirty years ago. This film also has the feeling of an incredibly typical Lifetime movie, and it follows a pattern: a girl has anorexia, she's committed to a treatment center that saves the day, and voilà, easy as that. I read the book, which is also rather outdated. The Best Little Girl in the World is more of a film to watch if you're interested in the differences between psychiatric treatment today and in past years, or to watch just for nostalgic value. They were originally going to cast Jodie Foster and I honestly think she would have done a much better acting job than Jennifer Jason Leigh. The film itself is pretty boring and the acting throughout is typical TV movie acting. Really the only example of a film about mental illness/addiction that is timeless is Go Ask Alice (1973). I don't really recommend this unless you want to pass the time.

Wow-I'm really surprised this movie didn't make more of a mark. Jennifer jason lee is absolutely great here playing a young girl who develops anorexia. It's one of the best roles I've ever seen, I don't care if its a tv movie! The whole cast in general was great in this.The only negative isn't really a negative, it's just a very tough movie to watch in spots. Well it would be, you can't make a movie about this subject and expect it not to be! The pluses far outweigh the negatives and if one is interested in the subject matter or a fan of Lee's this would be very definetly a good choice to view.It was actualy one of the first things I saw Lee in and helped make me a fan of hers. The movie also deals with a very tough subject matter in a realistic wellacted way.I think they could have got a better title but otherwise there's nothing negative to say about this movie at all.

"The Best Little Girl In The World" is a made-for-TV movie dealing with anorexia/bulimia. While it does have that "After-School Special" feel, it features good performances from great actors. Charles Durning is excellent as always as Casey's angry, disinterested father, and Jennifer Jason Leigh really establishes herself here as a great actor. The downside to this movie? It's a bit melodramatic- for example, every time Casey stumbles from weakness a dozen horns blare from the soundtrack. And there are laughably funny moments, such as the New Year's Eve sequence, where Charles During tries to force-feed Casey peanut butter sandwiches until she gains weight. She winds up biting his hand like a snarling dog. Or when Casey takes off her robe to reveal her sickly-thin body, it's obviously a body double. But if you are looking for a movie that deals with this subject honestly and respectfully (as opposed to all those Lifetime movies in which a man is always at fault), "The Best Little Girl In The World" is worth tracking down.

I saw this movie in health class as part of the eating disorders unit. I found it to be in the same category as "A Secret Between Friends": Better seen in class than at home. Everyone I know who saw this was disgusted by Casey's bulimic body. I know I was. The only major problem I see here was the anti-climactic ending. They could have definitely done more here.