HallmarkMovieBuff Having stayed up way too late on Saturday night to watch a key football game that I'd recorded while out at a concert, I was feeling feverish on Sunday from too little sleep. By mid-afternoon, when I got home from church, etc., I wasn't up for anything challenging; so in order to recuperate, I went to bed for the easily-watchable American Girl double feature on the Hallmark Channel. This was the second-made, but first-shown, of the two.This review may contain spoilers, but who cares? This is one of those happy-sad family movies with no big surprises. It has all the required elements of such a film, including the loss, and threat of loss, of certain family members. But you know such elements without my saying, elements which, if well-executed, can make one weep for joy.When I first started watching, I thought, "Oh, another girl-and-her-horse story. How trite." But it turned out to be more. "More" in this case includes the following.A. There are no BAD people in this movie, not even one. Not the boy who breaks his contract of apprenticeship in hopes of joining the Revolutionary War militia, not the bounty hunters who go after him, not even the man who abuses his horse in trying to break it, the horse that Felicity loves, trains in secret, releases from captivity, and eventually owns. There are people who do bad things, to be sure, but all are redeemed in the end. ("God bless us, every one.") B. The title character, Felicity, is especially and particularly GOOD. As played by Shailene Woodley, she is forever bright and cheerful (but not overly so); and of her own volition, she commits a series of kind and generous acts toward others (doubtless due to her upbringing by good and understanding parents, played to type by Marcia Gay Harden and John Schneider), including one beyond expectation (especially for a child of 10) toward the imprisoned horse-beater, whom she had every reason to dislike and avoid. Had I watched this film when it was first released, I might be watching Woodley's "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" today. (Season 1 is on hiatus with but two episodes remaining as I write this.) I called this a weeper because in my weakened state, the tears flowed perhaps a bit more easily than they would have otherwise. But tissues were not necessary -- the overflow was caught by the blanket on my bed. Needless to say, I recommend this film, whether you're sick or not. Special kudos go to Valerie Tripp for the books and to Anna Sandor for the teleplay, writers who, along with director Nadia Tass, are responsible for creating another worthy entry in the body of American family films.

notperfect_justloved I was very impressed with this movie. Actually, I was a little surprised (now I feel ashamed to admit that!) that the American Girls movies are such quality films! So many books that are turned into movies made for TV and such are not very good (and not true to the books at all), for example, the Dear America series.However, I personally was an avid American Girls fan when I was younger, and Felicity was my first doll and the first series I finished. I appreciated how much American Girls taught me about historical times from the eyes of young girls... perhaps they are not always completely historically accurate in the nitty-gritty details (as one user commented on the black lace on her dress and how Felicity has a non-family, apprentice as an escort), but I think the main ideas are present. She is an inspiring character, and always has been to me. I hope girls will appreciate this work of art as much as I did! However... as a warning to anyone who is a dedicated reader like I was... the movie's plot does not follow the books chronologically. All the important events are included in the movie, and nothing new is added, but things are diced up and mixed around. It confused me a little, but I understand it was for movie continuity. Anyone who has not read the book will not think twice about the sequence, and I'm sure even those who have will be able to forgive the writers!

Maia Appleby We have all three of the "American Girl" movies currently available and this one is my favorite. The plot may sound a bit corny, but it's a captivating story and the cast is wonderful.Felicity lives in a difficult era -- her father and grandfather, though they live in the same house, are on opposite sides of the issue of American independence. All the adults seem to have strong feelings one way or the other about the war and undertones of uncertainty are everywhere, making it confusing for Felicity and her friend Elizabeth.Intertwined with this question of American freedom is Felicity's strong commitment to free an oppressed horse from its abusive owner. She is a bit disobedient at times, but you can't help admiring her determination to do what's right, especially given that she lived in a time when a girl's "education" was limited to lessons in dance and tea-service.The historical value and the human themes make this a fascinating movie for the whole family.

vchimpanzee In 1775 Williamsburg, Virginia, Felicity Merriman is turning 10 and learning to be a proper young lady, which is what girls did in those days. But Felicity longs to be so much more. And she gets several chances in this movie to make her world better, not just sit back and let the men and the grownups do everything.Felicity's father, who runs a store, is a patriot who believes the colonies are being mistreated, but her grandfather who has a plantation near Yorktown, is loyal to the king, and the family gets into some disagreements over this. Felicity's best friend is Elizabeth, whose parents are loyalists. Elizabeth's uptight sister is Annabelle. Ben is an apprentice in the store, but he wants to join the fighting even though he is 15. Nan is Felicity's younger sister, and Rose is the family's black servant.Felicity falls in love with a wild horse being mistreated by tanner Jiggy Nye, who was a nice man until he lost his wife. Felicity names the horse Penny.Eventually, Felicity shows herself to be quite mature and quite capable of getting things done, improving the lives of those around her, and, by the film's end, showing what Christmas is really about.This is a fine film for children of all ages with no offensive content. The acting seems a little uptight, but that's common for films depicting the Revolutionary War era. The story makes it clear that even a little girl can accomplish a great deal, though Felicity seems a little too heroic to be realistic.Shailene Woodley does quite a good job as the film's hero. Marcia Gay Harden also impresses as the devoted but conservative mother. I also loved to hate Juliet Holland-Rose as Annabelle. Geza Kovacs shows a wide range as Jiggy Nye. I think everyone in a leading role does a good job.The dancing looked quite good as well. I know nothing about the minuet or other dances of the time, but the choreography looked good to me.If you're a little girl or anyone who likes warm holiday fare, this is the movie for you.