Little Women

Louisa May Alcott’s beloved classic tells the story of the four indomitable March sisters living in genteel poverty in Massachusetts while their father serves as a Civil War chaplain. Unfortunately, since the setting has been changed to present-day here, Alcott’s astute observations about female identity in the late 1860s lose context and authenticity, as the girls Skype-chat with their Army medic dad (Bart Johnson) in Afghanistan. Aspiring novelist Jo (Sarah Davenport) serves as narrator in inconsistent flashbacks relating to her sisters: domestic Meg (Melanie Stone), angelic Beth (Allie Jennings), and artistic Amy (Elise Jones/Taylor Murphy), all under the wing of their supportive mother Marmee (Lea Thompson). As delineated by co-writer/director Clare Niederpruem, Jo is an insufferably selfish, egotistical prig who barely appreciates the encouragement of a Columbia University professor (Ian Bohen). And the March neighbors—orphaned Laurie (Lucas Grabeel), his tutor (Stuart Edge), and wealthy Mr. Lawrence (Michael Flynn)—seem so superficial that they barely register, and neither does feisty Aunt March (Barta Heiner). Little Women has been filmed numerous times, including George Cukor’s 1933 film starring Katharine Hepburn as rebellious Jo, Mervyn Le Roy’s 1949 adaptation featuring June Allyson, Gillian Armstrong’s 1994 version with Winona Ryder, and the 2017 TV miniseries starring Maya Hawke. Sadly, this stilted and foolish latest version is by far the worst. Optional. (S. Granger)