Kit Kittredge: An American Girl

Published: Wednesday, July 2, 2008 11:37 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 

KIT KITTREDGE: AN AMERICAN GIRL — ★ ★ ½ — Abigail Breslin, Joan Cusack, Glenne Headly, Jane Krakowski, Chris O''Donnell, Julia Ormond, Wallace Shawn, Stanley Tucci; rated G

There's certainly nothing wrong with a little earnestness in a movie — especially when it's a supposed kids film like "Kit Kittredge: An American Girl."

But this Great Depression-era period piece tries so hard to make a point that it becomes overwhelmingly earnest at times. And that explains why its later attempts at comedy are so broad and goofy.

As a result, it is a bit of a mixed package, though it features a good message about tolerance and acceptance, and is one of the more appropriate films that have been aimed at younger audiences and their families lately.

The movie also has a good lead: young Abigail Breslin, who stars as the title character. Kit is a would-be journalist who keeps trying to get a Cincinnati publisher (Wallace Shawn) to print one of her articles.

She has no end of tales to tell either, especially when she sees her friends and their families losing their houses. The Depression really hits home, though, when Kit's father (Chris O'Donnell) loses his car dealership and is forced to hit the road to look for a new job.

Story continues below

In the meantime, her mother (Julia Ormond) has to rearrange their home and take in boarders — including a "mobile librarian" (Joan Cusack) and a magician (Stanley Tucci) — just to make ends meet.

Kit and her mother also show kindness to the less-privileged, such as hard-working, teenage drifter Will Shepherd (Max Thieriot). But given the air of suspicion with which these "hobos" are viewed, that makes them all unpopular.

This is some pretty ambitious material for a G-rated movie, and at times director Patricia Rozema and screenwriter Ann Peacock don't know quite what to do with it. The sudden tone shifts — at times it's a comedy, other times it's a drama, and there's a strong mystery component — are pretty jarring.

Frankly, they are lucky to have this cast. Breslin ("Little Miss Sunshine") pretty much charms her way through some rough patches, and both Cusack and Tucci provide welcome comic relief.

"Kit Kittredge: An American Girl" is rated G, though it features some child-in-peril elements, some brief violent bits (mostly vehicular mayhem and some slapstick) and a few derogatory slurs. Running time: 100 minutes.


E-MAIL: jeff@desnews.com

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

Movie Info
Rated G for .

Cast: Abigail Breslin, Joan Cusack, Glenne Headly, Jane Krakowski, Chris O''Donnell, Julia Ormond, Wallace Shawn, Stanley Tucci
FIND LOCAL MOVIE SHOWTIMES
Image

Kit Kittredge: An American Girl

Video
Related content
previousnext

Latest comments

I love Millsap, and the Jazz will find a way to move Boozer and match for...

i think its childish to assume that somebody would actually want to get...

Millsap and Boozer need to stay in Utah. Millsap is Boozers backup while he...

Childish and immature? Its always easier being ignorant and presuming things...

can you use words like testimony and church leadership to critisize a...

Bro P really helped me through a tough time in my life when I had him in...

These are only allegations at present, but I hope when he goes to trial, the...

My thoughts are with the Pratt family right now. Michael I hope you are...

It is interesting that everyone who seems to be a member comments on how nice...

You presume, simply because they were gay, that they were trying to "stir...

Advertisements