Kit Kittredge: An American Girl

Emotionally affecting but dramatically wobbly, "Kit Kittredge: An American Girl" touchingly illustrates the sting of poverty without overly resorting to childish shenanigans.

It's hard to dislike a tween picture that opens with Eleanor Roosevelt, but if explaining mortgage meltdowns to their tots doesn't sent parents screaming, the performances will.

A gently thoughtful, audience-appropriate entertainment that assembles swell actors to play colorful characters who don't shy away from depicting serious hard times.

The tweener girls for whom it is aimed deserve better. A mind is a terrible thing to waste.

[Takes] a story based on an IP (the American Girl dolls, which I confess I know very little about) and [turns] it into a strident socialist manifesto.

This first full-length film inspired by the American Girl doll series may very well become an American classic to delight young children for years to come.

Kittredge may lack the fanfare of its fellow films, but it proves to be an interesting experience that should please its target audience.

Do yourself a favor. Do a favor for the kids you like and love. Take them to see Kit Kittredge: An American Girl. Not just girls you like and love. Boys, too. If you are an adult, you will have a good time.