DVD
REVIEW: Kit Kittredge: An American Girl
10/29/08
SYNOPSIS:
The Great Depression hits home
for nine-year-old Kit Kittredge when her dad loses his
business and leaves to find work. Oscar nominee* Abigail
Breslin stars as Kit, leading a splendid cast in the
first-ever American Girl theatrical movie. In order to keep
their home, Kit and her mother must take in boarders paying
houseguests who turn out to be full of fascinating stories.
When mothers lockbox containing all their money is stolen,
Kits new hobo friend Will is the prime suspect. Kit refuses
to believe that Will would steal, and her efforts to sniff
out the real news get her and her friends into big trouble.
The police say the robbery was an inside job, committed by
someone they knew. So if it wasn't Will, then who did it?
REVIEW: Kit Kittredge is the first big screen
production based in the popular book series American Girl®.
The film was directed by Patricia Rozema (Mansfield Park)
from a screenplay by Ann Peacock (The Chronicles of Narnia:
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe). Released by
Picturehouse back on July 2nd, 2008. Kit Kittredge managed
to collect about $20 million dollars in its theatrical run,
able to recover its budget money of about $10 million
dollars. However the movie was considered a disappointment
by Picturehouse. Warner Bros Home Entertainment will be
releasing this beautiful, highly entertaining and
underestimated film in DVD October 28,2008.
This is one of those film that deserved better luck in its
theatrical release. Just like it happened with the second
film in the Chronicles of Narnia series, Kit Kittredge was a
victim of a bad release date decision by Picturehouse. This
is a film that was destined to be released either in
November or December. In this slot the film would have had
the opportunity to attract moviegoers looking for a good
quality family movie. Fortunately, the movie is getting its
DVD release before the holidays.
The film follows in great
depth the main footsteps of the book, "American Girl".
Historical facts, interesting characters and story that is
hard to find in any other publication. In this particular
story, the historical event is during the Great Depression.
The screenplay also is well written by Ann Peacock,
developing a very entertaining story and at the same
presenting the reality of the historical period without
losing focus in its target audience, the whole family
especially the children.
Director Patricia Rozema
does a beautiful job recreating the events of the Great
Depression. She presents with great wit and sensibility some
of the situations faced by the people at the time, bringing
to viewers the changes and consequences that people made in
order to survive during this historical period. It is by
this effort that the film takes the audience back in time to
the mid 1920's, therefore Patricia Rozema takes a little
long to get to the exciting part of the film, which is when
Kit and her friends embark into the investigation of who is
behind the robberies in their neighborhood.
Overall the young cast
delivered a good performance. Madison Davenport who plays
Ruthie Smithens, Kit’s best friend and daughter of the local
banker and Zach Mills who plays Stirling, a boy who comes to
live at Kit’s house as a boarder after his parents lose
their house. But is once again Abigail Breslin who delivers
another outstanding performance, bringing to life this
beloved character who will make kids and grown ups fall in
love.
Movie
Review By The Critic
VIDEO:
Anamorphic Widescreen
Full Screen
AUDIO:
English
5.1 (Dolby Digital).
Subtitles - English Spanish
- Optional
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Digital
Copy
RATING BREAK DOWN:
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