Kit Kittredge: An American Girl

A nostalgic yarn that balances Nancy Drew-type melodrama with emotional authenticity, this disarming film makes good family entertainment. Its youthful protagonist—played by Abigail Breslin with the perfect combination of vulnerability and spunk—experiences the Depression’s hardships firsthand when her father (Chris O’Donnell) is forced to leave home in search of work and her mother (Julia Ormond) takes in borders for money. Meanwhile, aspiring reporter Kit solves a mystery involving thefts attributed to hobos camped outside town. Bolstered by an unusually strong supporting cast that includes Glenne Headly, Stanley Tucci, Joan Cusack, Jane Krakowski and Wallace Shawn, the film takes viewers deep inside a bleak period in American history, showing families being torn asunder and forced to surrender their homes. Although Patricia Rozema’s direction is, at best, competent, the plot is resolved satisfactorily, and the young ones will be pleased.

Shelf Talk: Based on the popular line of The American Girl dolls and a series of stories for young girls (written by Valerie Tripp), Kit Kittredge is a potential gold mine of cross-promotional opportunities that Warner will fully exploit. Kids will already be aware of the property, and the cast will draw interest from adults. Sell-through prospects will be very good, especially as Christmas draws closer.