Reese Witherspoon began her acting career before she was legally anything (at the mere age of 15) in the brilliantly touching film The Man in the Moon.

The film, released in 1991, takes place on a Louisiana farmhouse in the 1950s where Witherspoon portrays 14-year-old Dani, a spunky tomboy not quite ready to take on the responsibilities of an adult, but ready to be treated like one.

Witherspoon immediately impresses with her Southern drawl and gripping facial expressions in the opening scene while having a conversation with her older and quite fetching sister, Maureen, played by Emily Warfield. As the two converse on a screened-in porch where they sleep when it's too hot to be inside, it becomes immediately apparent that they are close. Maureen muses to her bewildered sister that she's a little confused about life right now, and wishes they could still tell the man in the moon their problems like their mother told them to when they were little. "That's just kid stuff, Maureen," Dani replies in perfect character. The innocent conversation is genuine and natural much like the rest of the movie will be.

Things start to get interesting for Dani when she runs into 17-year-old Court Foster, played by Jason London, while she's taking a dip (naked) at her favorite swimming hole. London's brazen character compliments Witherspoon's right away as the two argue and eventually realize they're new neighbors. At first, Dani is embarrassed and pissed off about the incident, but the relationship quickly develops into a flirtatious, love/hate one that works beautifully. For every quick comment that the adorable Court dishes out, Dani has one just as catty to match, and the relationship is undeniably candid and sincere.

The two become swimming buddies and Dani is falling for her first crush fast as she takes down her posters of Elvis, her former obsession, and walks around the house humming with a dopey expression on her face. You'll be taken back to your 7th grade crush by Witherspoon's naïve, starry-eyed glee. The two eventually share one soft, sweet kiss after Dani tells Court, "I want you to be the first boy I ever kiss." You can almost feel the butterflies in Dani's stomach, and it's adorable.

Things take a turn when Dani invites Court over to the house under her father's order, and Court meets Maureen. Maureen and Court can't take their eyes off each other and Dani stares on as Court reverts to calling her "kid," again, creating a very awkward and painful situation. Maureen and Court eventually start messing around behind Dani's back -- Court is just what Maureen has been missing in her life, she realizes, and Court feels the same way. Court and Maureen grow closer while the age difference between Dani and Court becomes clearer when she hastily blurts out that she loves him and can't understand why he's been acting so strange. When Dani finds out about Court and Maureen, she is heartbroken and doesn't feel that she'll ever want to be close to her sister again. Although you want to hate Maureen, it's hard, because she had no intention of hurting her younger sister, but truly has feelings for Court.

The story ends tragically when both of the girls lose Court and Dani realizes that the bond between her and her sister is the only thing that will get them through.

You'll definitely break out the tissues for The Man in the Moon, but I highly recommend it. It's an honest, simple and touching story about first loves, family and loss that'll make you smile just as often as it makes you cry.