Abigail Breslin, Joan Cusack, Glenne Headly

Based on the American Girl doll line and will center on Kit Kittredge, a young woman who grows up in the early years of the Great Depression.

Flixster Users

64% liked it

48,164 ratings

Critics

79% liked it

98 critics

G, 1 hr. 31 min.

Directed by: Patricia Rozema

Release Date: June 20, 2008

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DVD Release Date: October 28, 2008

Stats: 1,324 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,324)


  • November 16, 2008
    I didn't wanna see this at first, but rented it for my Daughter. We sat down together to watch it...and I was very much surprised when this turned out to be a reallycute girly Movie. Glad I watched it and spent this good time with my kid. Great Mom and Daughter Flick!
  • November 9, 2008
    Kit Kittredge (Abigail Breslin) is a friendly young girl enjoying life in the year 1934. Kit's family is part of a fairly wealthy social circle, but times are starting to get very hard. Kit's father (Chris O'Donnell) has lost his job, and is forced to go to Chicago to seek work. ...( read more)In the meantime, Kit and her mother (Julia Ormond) are forced to take in boarders in order to pay the mortgage. Very quickly, the Kittredge household becomes filled with a variety of eccentric figures, including a clever magician (Stanley Tucci), a loopy dancer (Jane Krakowski) and a mobile librarian (Joan Cusack). Just as Kit is getting used to her new situation, something mysterious starts happening. Robberies are beginning to take place in Kit's home town, and many are blaming members of the hobo community. In fact, one of the key suspects is a young man named Will (Max Thieriot), a hobo who has been doing work for the Kittredge family in exchange for a little money and food. However, Kit is convinced of Will's innocence, and determines to solve the mystery. The film is a gentle and thoughtful little period piece that somewhat resembles an exceptionally good Nancy Drew story. Breslin is indeed the best thing about the movie, never once coming across as too contemporary for the time. But she's also so cinematically precocious, so completely a work of manufactured motion picture moralizing that she fails to come across as a real kid. Cusack usually delivers first-rate performances, but this one is a disappointment.
  • July 14, 2008
    Their intentions were in the right place and I liked that they stayed true to the time period that the story took place in. Other than that, pretty bland.
  • July 7, 2008
    Despite Breslin's default winning nature, the film itself proves wholesome to a fault.
  • August 9, 2009
    pretty decent movie, got interested, when i caught it,and didnt stop watching it,lol.
  • October 30, 2009
    Great actors plus good script equals a good, but utterly forgettable movie. I accidentally watched this movie three separate times in a six month window, only to remember that I'd seen it based on a single scene fifteen minutes before the end credits making me suspicious and my ...( read more)suspicion verified by the final scenes before the end credits. Since people say it is a good movie, I have since watched it an additional two times suffering the same horrific suspicions and revalations with each viewing. Its a good kid flick to watch once, but certainly not three or even five times.
  • September 30, 2009
    This movie is very motivating and surprising. What a clever little girl. Her character could be the inspiration for everyone, even for the adults.
  • September 28, 2009
    A good, not so fresh, quite common family movie adress to younger people.
  • August 17, 2009
    Apr 09 - A nice family movie and a mellow view of the depression.
  • August 9, 2009
    Very good movie. It's a beautiful story, I thought it was based on a true story but it wasn't. Loved it anyways(:

Critic Reviews


July 2, 2008
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

This is a sweet, G-rated story of 1930s girl power, with nary a princess in sight. full review

July 2, 2008
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

There's nothing remotely cool about Kit Kittredge. That's why it's cool. full review

June 30, 2008
A.O. Scott, The New York Times

Kit Kittredge Ready to Take American Girls' Movie Money full review

June 21, 2008
Marcy Dermansky, About.com

A fine film: for children and adults. full review

June 20, 2008
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal

It's not only fresh and unassuming, but a film that serves, very nicely, the severely underserved audience of young girls. full review

June 20, 2008
Claudia Puig, USA Today

Though predictable and unabashedly sentimental, the film is a warmly appealing tale of a bright girl bravely navigating tough times. full review

June 20, 2008
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

Kit Kittredge is a gentle-spirited movie that also acknowledges the fact that we can't -- and shouldn't -- protect kids from everything. full review

June 20, 2008
Pete Hammond, Boxoffice Magazine

No great shakes, but if it brings a few smiles to the younger audience members and some instant additions to their dollhouses, it will have achieved everything it set out to do. full review

June 20, 2008
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Considering that it is inspired by one of the dolls in the American Girl product line, Kit Kittredge: An American Girl is some kind of a miracle: an actually good movie. full review

View more Kit Kittredge: An American Girl Mystery reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • freemode
    June 25, 2008
    hey its alright,just would like to know what she looks like in person u know

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