Based on the American Girl doll line and stories for young girls written by Valerie Tripp, Kit Kittredge is a nostalgic yarn that successfully balances Nancy Drew-type melodrama with emotional authenticity. Youthful protagonist Kit—played by Abigail Breslin with a perfect combination of vulnerability and spunk—experiences Great Depression hardships firsthand when her father (Chris O'Donnell) loses his car dealership and leaves home in search of work, forcing her mother (Julia Ormond) to take in boarders and raise chickens for money. Aspiring reporter Kit, whose nose for news is keenly developed, stays busy herself, working on solving a mystery involving thefts attributed to hobos camped outside town. Directed by Patricia Rozema, Kit Kittredge—bolstered by an unusually strong supporting cast that includes Glenne Headly, Stanley Tucci, Joan Cusack, Jane Krakowski, and Wallace Shawn—deals forthrightly with one of America's most dismal periods, and while Kit is by nature a sunny, optimistic go-getter, she's not oblivious to the pain and suffering around her. Recommended. [Note: Featuring both widescreen and full screen versions on the same disc, DVD/Blu-ray extras include DVD-ROM features, a trailer gallery, and a bonus digital copy of the film. Bottom line: an unimpressive extras package for a solid family film.] (E. Hulse)
Kit Kittredge: An American Girl
New Line, 101 min., G, DVD: $28.99, Blu-ray: $35.99, Oct. 28 Volume 23, Issue 6
Kit Kittredge: An American Girl
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