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An American girl and boy review ‘Kit Kittredge’
It seemed only natural to spend my Fourth of July seeing a movie called Kit Kittredge: An American Girl, based on the beloved doll line and book series.
The big boys and their bright, loud fireworks overshadowed the little girls at the megaplexes, and that’s unfortunate. Kit Kittredge is lovingly made and smartly presented - most of the way.
Adapted from stories by Valerie Tripp, the movie has Kit (Abigail Breslin) striving to become a reporter for the Cincinnati Register. Gradually, the shadow of the Great Depression darkens even Kit’s usually plucky disposition. Her dad (Chris O’Donnell) is forced to find work in Chicago, while her mom (Julia Ormond) has to take in boarders to make ends meet.
The plot thickens when a crime wave hits Cincinnati, Hamilton, Columbus and Dayton. (Middletown, blessedly, seems to be spared.) Police and tut-tutting adults in the neighborhood are quick to suspect hobos, but Kit, who has befriended them, vows to prove their innocence.
One of the most refreshing qualities of the American Girl franchise is that it isn’t a crass attempt to sell merchandise. The books show their readers slices of life from history, and so does this movie. Handsomely presented by director Patricia Rozema, the film cannily uses true-life details like hobo symbols that I found especially fascinating.
But Kit Kittredge is more than just a glossy museum piece. It doesn’t sugarcoat the Depression, presenting its characters with dilemmas that lead to heartfelt moments. Breslin is irresistible, whether she’s determined to realize her dreams or disillusioned by the Depression. The cast also includes such dependable players as Jane Krakowski, Wallace Shawn and Joan Cusack.
Most of the movie is so winning, it’s more than a little disheartening to see it resort to lame, predictable slapstick in which the adults have the IQ of a cabbage. It feels as if a studio executive said, “We need to give the little ones something zany to laugh at. Cue the pratfalls!” It’s out of synch with the rest of the movie, and totally unnecessary.
Perhaps fearing that the Depression would be heavy going for its audience, writer Ann Peacock ties the story up with too many bows. Happy endings are to be expected in this sort of movie, but everything falls so conveniently into place, the conclusion feels more like a matter of luck than real achievement.
What this movie achieves, however, is highly impressive and more than a little charming. It may not seem like the kind of movie that needs to be seen in a theater, but it’s beyond cute to see an audience full of children clutching their dolls.
GRADE: B
Speaking of dolls, I’d like to introduce you to one of my personal favorites - my dear friend Angela Allen. The American Girl dolls and books are to her what movies are to me, so here’s a review from a real aficionado who, in her own way, is following in Kit’s journalistic footsteps!
I have been waiting a long time for this movie. An avid American Girl fan since a library visit in 1990 that led to my discovery of the books, I have been the proud owner of a Kit Kittredge doll since her debut in 2000. Kit’s books are among my favorites in the series.
Let me state right now that I don’t consider myself a total book purist when it comes to movie adaptations. The American Girl television movies ran the gamut from following the books pretty closely (Felicity) to waiting almost halfway through the movie before lifting something from the books (Molly) to somewhere in between (Samantha). Many fans complained of the changes made to all three, but it comes with the territory when you take six books and smash them into one cohesive story. Some changes I had issues with, others didn’t bother me at all.
With Kit, I knew of many changes going into the movie just from watching the trailers, so I was prepared. In fact, I ended up being pleasantly surprised. Immediately as the movie started, Kit’s world of the 1930s felt familiar, and I delighted at spotting outfits, story moments, accessories, and furniture right out of Kit’s collection. It became a game of, oh look, it’s Kit’s school supplies! Oh look, it’s Kit’s desk! Oh look, it’s Kit’s typewriter! Oh look, she’s wearing the outfit the doll comes in! Even the picture of Kit’s favorite baseball player and her copy of Robin Hood are there.
As for the plot, the best way I can describe it to fans of the Kit book series is that it’s as if they took her 6 core books and tossed them into a blender- a pinch of this book, a dash of that book, a toss of something new. Literally, I’d catch bits and pieces from each book as the movie continued on. Dad loses his business in book 1. Will and the hobos are in book 5. Mr. Gibson, the newspaper editor, appears in book 6. Some moments, such as, Kit’s heartbreaking discovery at the soup kitchen, are exactly how I imagined them.
Although overall I really enjoyed this film, I can’t say it is without flaws. A mystery plot never seen in the books threatens to turn it into a goofy catch-the-thief movie with bad guys that would almost be better suited for Home Alone or something from Nickelodeon. I’m disappointed in the screenwriters for feeling the need to add something so hokey to an otherwise beautifully done adaptation! I also felt the ending wraps up things just a little too neatly. Something Kit works towards for the entire movie is suddenly dropped right into her lap with no explanation.
As is the nature of the medium, the movie is unable to express the same character depth that can be found in the books. Poor Ruthie, one of my favorite characters, is left with very little to do. The books get more into the differences between Kit and Ruthie and the challenge of being friends when Kit’s family becomes poor while Ruthie’s father works at the bank. The movie only hints at this story arc.
The American Girl books are full of wonderful illustrations, so I have these images in my head of favorite moments. If Kit Kittredge: An American Girl is your introduction to Kit’s world and you enjoyed it, I highly recommend reading her books to learn more about her. Yes, get over your embarrassment of being seen in the children’s section of the library and check them out.
Eric asked me to assign a grade - something that is very difficult for me to do because I often have trouble making up my mind on how I feel about something. So I’ll just say this - the silly mystery plot gets a C, but the rest of the film gets an A!
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By SRCputt
July 7, 2008 6:00 PM | Link to this
My eight year old niece is a huge American Girl fan, and she loved the movie.