Little Women

I love the story of little women and have enjoyed other movie versions of this story. This version just doesn't cut it. I am sure she is a fine actress but Sarah Davenport who plays Jo is absolutely unlikeable. I found the movie contrived, overacted and to be honest hard to watch. I see there is a new version in a year with Meryl Streep and others.....so we shall see. Skip this version.

Well this is not the best version of Little Women ever put on the big screen but it is not as bad as some of the reviews are saying either. It is pretty basic and "contrived" as someone said but it is also a family movie and isn't trying to be very deep. I thought the acting was ok and the story was fine, I mean it is based on the classic. At the least I thought it was a nice idea at trying to modernize the old story. It just could have been better and more engaging.

Jo is not very likable and in fact is downright mean most of the time during this movie. This could have been so much better if the writers had made Jo more endearing instead of rude and nasty. Yes, in Little Women Jo is headstrong and independent but she's never unpleasant and in this movie that's exactly what she is - unpleasant. The rest of the film is just so-so with no real depth. It's certainly not a film one will recall or watch more than once.

Perfectly enjoyable modern take on Little Women. I really liked the choices made to modernize the story. Some examples: Beth dying of cancer and Jo shaving her head for solidarity. Professor Bhaer being Jo's supportive(and very attractive) but critical professor at college. Father home from Iraq. I loved his relationship with his wife (the always appealing and talented Lea Thompson) and his girls. Straitlaced Meg going a little crazy and getting drunk and making out (briefly) at a party. Jo being an aspiring fantasy YA writer. Devotees of the original Little Woman will immediately be able to compare these with similar plot points in the original. The two thing that bothered me was A) the casting of Laurie. The actor did not look the part, though I did love the way they updated the character. The major problem (B) was the character of Jo. She was spoiled, arrogant, petulant, and immature throughout. She was a real drama queen and made even more irritating by the hammy acting on the part of the actress. She was also rather stupid. Had the character been better written, i would have given this a 7 or 8.

I finally figured out why Sarah Davenport and her depiction of Jo was so annoying - she was acting like one of the Disney animated princesses, facial expressions, body language and everything. Like a peeved Ariel, or Elsa, or all of them. Angry huffing little foot stompers. Ruined movie for me.