Isabelle Dances Into the Spotlight

It's not good, but it's good to occupy very young kids.

18 October 2016. This adolescent drama shines with its carefully scripted plot emphasis on relationships in this, yes, predictable, but entertaining movie. Additionally, unlike most such drama, the care taken to ensure the substance of the theme isn't given short cuts. As this movie's theme centers around ballet, ballet and dance scenes are given a nice balance of on-screen time, especially the Nutcracker ballet which must of cost a bit of movie, unless the producers were fortunate enough to be able to borrow or lease an actual Nutcracker set and costumes. Another nice feature here is the focus on sister-sister relationships as well as the typical subplots between other ballet dancers. There isn't much in the way of romance to distract from the main message here. This is an educational, nicely messaged adolescent movie for girls.

I heard the main character say she's in fourth grade, and I thought there is no way these girls are in 4th grade. So I opened the movie description and it says "9 year old Isabelle..." These girls look so old so I looked up their ages when they made this movie, and they were 14! I get that it's difficult to cast a bunch of ballet-talented 9 year olds for leads in a movie, but why not just have the characters be closer to 14 for the part?

This latest movie from American Girl is the gift you give to your daughter, granddaughter, or niece who loves ballet and dance, because Isabelle not only dances into the spotlight but also on the screen for most of the film! While the previous two American Girl movies of recent years focused on a specific talent (gymnastics with McKenna and painting with Saige), this one really, really focuses on ballet, so ballet students will feel right at home with all the dancing, ballet terms, rehearsals, and of course, the production of The Nutcracker (which any and all dancers could probably do in their sleep). For non-ballerina girls, it's still good fun, but ballet girls will especially enjoy and identify with it.

The production is very handsome and colorful, this being director Vince Marcello's third consecutive outing with American Girl. It looks and feels very much like McKenna and Saige, which means there are plenty of giggle scenes and lots and lots of sweetness, quite a bit more than in the earlier AG films that were based on the historical dolls.

Yes, some could comment on the sugary approach or the giggle dialogue, but here's the deal. American Girl is one of the only companies in the known world producing clean, wholesome, innocent entertainment for children. I am very glad they continue to dance in the spotlight with fun and suitable family viewing. It's sweet and heartfelt, and our children need as much of that as they can get. Thanks, AG!