Felicity: An American Girl Adventure: Deluxe Edition

Like the animated features starring Barbie, the live-action American Girl movies revolve around characters that began life as dolls. Felicity, which aired on the WB in 2005, stars Shailene Woodley as 10-year-old Felicity Merriman, who lives with her mother (Marcia Gay Harden), shopkeeper father (John Schneider), and younger siblings in Williamsburg, VA, circa 1775. Felicity's conservative grandfather (David Gardner) and a progressive shop assistant (Kevin Zegers) round out the extended family, while new British arrival Elizabeth (Katie Henney) becomes her best friend. Despite the conventions of the era, Felicity would prefer to wear trousers and ride horses, but the times necessitate petticoats and dancing lessons. After Felicity discovers Penny, an untamed mare owned by the town misanthrope, she visits the horse at night, feeding her, talking to her, and eventually riding her. While Felicity tries to find a way to make Penny her own, political foment is brewing, with friends and relatives taking sides against each other, depending on whether they support royal rule or colonial independence. As the months pass, Felicity loses a loved one, gains a new family member, and learns to bridge the ideological divide. While cynics may claim this film exists solely to sell merchandise, this entertaining family movie will prove educational even for young viewers with no interest in the American Girl doll line. DVD extras include a tour of “Felicity's World of Colonial Williamsburg,” and behind-the-scenes featurettes. Recommended. (K. Fennessy)