Seen on: July 3, 2008

The players: Director: Patricia Rozema, Writers: Ann Peacock, Vincent Ngo, Cast: Abigail Breslin, Stanley Tucci, Glenne Headly, Jane Krakowski, Julia Ormond

Facts of interest: Based on the American Girl doll line.

The plot: The film mainly focuses on the Great Depression as seen through the eyes of a young, aspiring writer named Kit Kittredge.

Our thoughts: “Kit Kittredge: An American Girl” proves that casting Abigail Breslin as the lead character in a kids’ film doesn’t automatically guarantee a masterpiece. Although the film based on the popular doll line isn’t exactly a total bore, it clearly neglects its need for entertainment by overloading its viewers with historical information.

Set during the Great Depression in 1934, the story focuses on young Kit Kittredge (Breslin), an aspiring writer from Cincinnati whose biggest dream is to become a reporter for the Cincinnati Register. But when her father (Chris O’Donnell) loses his car dealership and leaves for Chicago to look for work to support his family, Kit’s life takes a drastic turn. As she watches her friends’ families face foreclosure, Kit starts to worry about her own future, hoping she’ll never have to leave her home or end up as a hobo herself.

And that’s pretty much what Patricia Rozema’s film spends most time with during the first hour. Although “Kit Kittredge” succeeds in making the impact of the Great Depression on families accessible to young audiences, the movie often feels too much like a dry history lesson without enough action to keep the youngsters engaged for the entire 100 minutes. Instead of showing us more of Kit’s reporting skills and her determination to become a reporter, all we get to see in the end is how the devastating effects of the Depression slowly pushes her family into ruin.

Luckily, the plot picks up some speed after Kit’s mother (Julia Ormond) takes in a group of eccentric boarders to gather enough money for her mortgage payment. Among them are Miss Bond (Joan Cusack), a mobile librarian who can’t drive; Mrs. Howard (Glenne Headly), who moves in with her son, and Jefferson Berk (Stanley Tucci), a magician who keeps everybody entertained in the evenings. The Kittredge’s guests also include two hobos, who complete some work around the house in exchange for some food.

Although the introduction of these new characters injects the film with some much-needed diversity, screenwriter Ann Peacock continues to lecture her viewers on the struggle of families or the perception of hobos during the Depression instead of having her central characters engaging in something that is more amusing. It’s not until the final 30 minutes of the film that we are finally allowed to have some fun, watching Kit and her friends embark on a quest to uncover the truth behind a series of crimes that makes everyone at the Kittredge house a suspect.

Breslin gives us a charming portrayal of Kit Kittredge and easily steals every scene she’s in, despite the script’s failure to supply her with more compelling material. Annoying on the other hand is Joan Cusack’s Miss Bond, the librarian who can’t distinguish between the gas and the brake and crashes her van into everything she can find. And Stanley Tucci is utterly disappointing in the role of the magician. He’s usually a hilarious guy who masters his lines and fits every character, but his efforts here are anything but noteworthy.

Freaky quote: "What, you want a cookie?” – Will Smith

The final word: Despite the exhausting history lesson and a lack of adventure, “Kit Kittredge” is a decent enough option for those who don’t want to take their kids to see “Hancock” this weekend. Movies can serve as a fantastic tool to teach audiences about historical events, but this one clearly overdoes it. The last half hour saves it from disaster, although by then most of the hope is lost. “Kit Kittredge: An American Girl” is not quite the adventure I expected it to be. 

Article by Franck Tabouring