Date: August 4, 2008
Location: Regal Sawgrass
Now this was a pleasant surprise!
Took the day off to spend some time with the kids before school starts back up and after some pool time and Ikea time (ok, that was more for Alex and me than for the kids) Sophia and I went to see Kit Kittredge.
I don’t know anything about these American Girl dolls or books. We saw a store once in Chicago and it sort of creeped me out to see all these girls dressed just like the dolls they were carrying. I figured it was some sort of Stepford situation.
But if they’re all like this movie, sign me up. It’s delightful, sweet, poignant and clever with a mystery plotline that kept me guessing throughout. It has a cornball appeal and girl-power message that totally won me over.
I love this Abigail Breslin, as well as her agent. She has cornered the market on smart, cool, real girl with her roles in Little Miss Sunshine, Nim’s Island and now this. I don’t expect her to go the Dakota Fanning route and play a coquettish rape victim anytimes soon… she’d be cool with Charlotte’s Web.
The story is set during the Depression and follows young Kit, an aspiring journalist, as she chronicles her surroundings. Her father has left for Chicago to find work, leaving her sweetheart of a mom behind to take care of a houseful of boarders (including a magician, a dance instructor and a mobile book seller). Kit spends her time with a couple friends from school and a pair of young hobos who do odd jobs for food. All of this is very quaint and clean but still manages to drive home the desperation of the 1930s (and the multiplying foreclosure signs are an eerie echo of today’s housing crisis).
I won’t say much more than that — it’s a joy to watch the story unfold, and it contains some smart twists. It’s also wonderful to see a movie that truly earns its G rating.
Now, I have to go look into those dolls…
Meet Me In Montauk 
Forget the dolls. Get the books! We read one of the series in its entirety (Felicity), as well as a few stray books in other series. We haven’t yet read the Kit story, but this film certainly made me want to. I loved this movie (as you know from my high ranking of it). The only thing I love more than Abigail Breslin is watching Joan Cusack run. What a delight 🙂 Did Sophia like it? As for the history lesson, I was educated (I never knew hobos had their own language) and moved. Yes, of course, I cried. This is a wonderful family film.
Sophia did like it. She wants to go back with Alex sometime this week if possible.
Hell, I almost cried in the ‘Stirling’s letter’ scene.
I remember hearing about the American Girl series from Pam O’Hara years ago when her daughter Rachel was a huge fan of the dolls and books. It wasn’t around when Amy was the right age; I’m sure we would have been fans as well. I too think Abagail Breslin is a wonderful young actress. She was also good in Definitely Maybe–a decent rental even though it has some problems. I’ll get this on Netflix when it comes out.
This was a swell movie. I’m glad you brought up the fact that it’s all “safe” for kids but still presents the depression error well. I think it’s great for kids to see people live with hard situations instead of just “overcoming the adventure.”