The Hate U Give review – Staci says it’s a movie the whole family needs to see.

In The Hate U Give, teenage girl Starr Carter (Amandla Stenberg) shifts between two worlds—the poor, black neighborhood where she lives and the wealthy, white private school that she attends.

The disconnect between her circles is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her friend Khalil Harris (Algee Smith), an African American boy, at the hands of a Caucasian police officer. While grieving, she is forced to navigate the politics of speaking out or staying silent. The Hate U Give is based on an award-winning young adult novel of the same name, and according to those who have both read the book and seen the movie, it sticks close to the story.

In addition to the unsettling racial and social themes, The Hate U Give also shows the life of a modern teenage girl: dating, the prom, hanging out with friends, interacting with family, and so on. The brutality and the unflinching gaze in harsher moments may be difficult for some viewers, especially younger children, but it’s an important movie for all to see. Having said that, it’s not a solemn sermon. There are many facets to the tale, and there is even some humor when appropriate.

Sternberg shines as Starr, ably showing how she is able to be a something of a chameleon between the streets and the classroom. She’s even more impressive when she must shed her adaptable ways and become her own person: should the teen go along to get along after what she witnessed, or should she speak out and make a target of herself? Both options have upsides and downsides.

While The Hate U Give is somewhat tonally uneven, it’s well worth seeing on the big screen—and talking about afterward.

PG-13
2 Hours 12 Minutes

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The Hate U Give review – Staci says it’s a movie the whole family needs to see.