Kitt Kitteredge

Kit Kitteredge: An American Girl

A Delightful Movie
Nilda F. Andrews

Kit Kittredge: An American Girl is a delightful movie about a young girl who not only dreams about being a newspaper journalist, but also convinces the city’s editor (Wallace Shawn) into hiring her. The twist is that it is 1930 and the Great Depression has hit all walks of life, including her family. Kit, as played by Abigail Breslin, points out that her column will be unique because it is from a young person’s point of view—she’s ten.

A Winner

Interestingly, there were moments in the movie that felt very familiar; for example, when Kit’s friends are evicted from their foreclosed home or when her father (Chris O’Donnell) loses his job. The similarity between those times and our own today was somewhat menacing. Let me not lead you astray by painting a picture of doom and gloom. There are very uplifting moments as neighbors help each other in those trying times. And the attention-grabbing sub-plots make the movie all the more exciting. There are several. Suffice it to say that with such a very good supporting cast (Stanley Tucci, Joan Cusack, and Jill Ormand as Kit’s mother), this is a worthwhile movie to take your tweenies. As an adult, you will enjoy the fine acting as well as the engaging storyline.

While there have been three other American Girl® movies, this one is a winner. My hat’s off again to Abigail Breslin for bringing such vitality and spirit to this role, especially since this movie is a screenplay created from the American Girl® Dolls historical collection. Who knew there would be such personality, charisma and anecdotal material to write about an inanimate object?

Cast and Credits

Cast: Abigail Breslin, Stanley Tucci, Julia Ormond, Joan Cusack, Glenne Headly

Director: Patricia Rozema
Screenwriter: Ann Peacock

Tagged Kitt Kitteredge