Movie Review - Cookie Queens
I’m quite torn on how I feel about this light-as-air “documentary” about Girl Scout cookies and the girls who sell them. The film follows four Scouts from different states, as they go through the grueling 6 weeks of selling cookies to anyone they come in contact with.
On one hand, the four girls we follow (well, two in particular) are a joy to watch. I don’t really want to talk much about them here, because part of the enjoyment of this movie is meeting them and watching their different personalities, and I don’t want to spoil that for a reader of this review who might see the film. It’s the feeling of “Kids Say the Darnedest Things” that can bring a smile to your face as you listen to them opine about selling cookies and the world at large.
On the other hand, some of the scenes feel quite staged, and sometimes it feels that the girls are “acting” for the camera. Not all the time, and not all the girls, but it puts off that vibe occasionally. I know that goes along with these types of documentaries, but when you feel that someone might be performing for the camera, it takes you out of the moment.
I particularly enjoyed the second half of the movie, when things got a little more serious. One girl isn’t going to hit her goal; one family is wondering how they will pay for all of these cookies if they can’t sell them, because it can cost as much as a mortgage payment; one girl is beginning to feel the weight of expectations as a top seller and realizing she may not want to do this anymore. You do see real emotions come out.
The film itself is created very competently and has some beautiful cinematography. It’s quite charming, but even at only 90 minutes, it can feel a bit dragged out at times.
Overall, I’m a sucker for a documentary, and although this is a very light subject, it is still fun to watch a movie about the girls and families behind those $6 overpriced (but incredibly addictive) cookies.
Grade: B
| Rated: | (G) NA |
| Genres: | Documentary |
| USA release date: | 2026-08-07 |
| Movie length: | 91 minutes |
| Starring: | Ara, Shannon Elizabeth, Nikki, Olive |
| Director: | Alysa Nahmias |
| Writer(s): | Alysa Nahmias |
| Language: | en |
| Country: | US |
Plot
A celebration of girlhood and the complexities that come with it, Cookie Queens is a coming-of-age story about the joys, pressures, and tensions woven into one of America’s most cherished rituals: Girl Scout Cookie season.
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