Felicity: An American Girl Adventure

I watched this movie as a child more than ten years ago. The terrible fake-crying in the "you're free, Penny!" scene has stuck with me since then, so I decided to watch it again for nostalgia. Mistake. It was extremely painful to endure. Not a single character in this movie has any depth or development. The dialog is predictable and boring. Everyone speaks in aphorisms. Felicity is a brat-- her actions are not justified, yet everyone rewards her, time after time?? With the horse, the dress... Bleh. The horse girl themes are unbearable, as are the patriot vs. loyalist themes. And why is Ben 15 when the actor is 20? Overall, do not watch this movie, even for nostalgia. Even Molly is better than this. You're freeeeeeeee! -sobs-

This movie is great for little girls to watch, or for any girl who grew up with American Girl stories. It is a great story in a historical context which helps children understand how our country was born, as well as how girls lived at this time in history. SO family friendly- it has great morals and lessons for children to watch in a movie. Also helps girls to understand a little bit about the divisions that politics bring among people, and how we can love each other regardless of differing opinions. Could lead to some great discussions with your girls.

On the other side, the acting is occasionally predictably TV-movie cheesy...a few cringe-worthy sappy moments, and Felicity's intense love for a horse is uncomfortably obsessive. The best acting in the movie is from little Eulala Scheel, Marcia Gay Harden's (who also plays Mrs. Merriman) real-life daughter. She is adorable as Nan, Felicity's little sister. It is sweet to see such a great actress doing something so fun and memorable with her little girl. I would buy this on DVD for myself and to watch with my daughters in the future. Overall very enjoyable.

I just happened upon this movie last night on TV. And, I was pleasantly delighted by it. It was a nice, wholesome film that also had a great lesson in history. We're taught history in school, but what I've always enjoyed is knowing the "real life" parts of what happened. What were people doing at that time? What were their pastimes? How did they dress? How did they interact with each other on a daily basis? This movie was an example of that. It took a key time in American history (right before Revolutionary War) and explored the day-to-day lives of a family. That's what I love to know about.

I loved that this was a movie that the whole family could enjoy together. It's a refreshing change from what we usually see on TV and in the movies.

Please, Hollywood! More of these types of films! There IS a market for it out here!

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.

"Felicity: An American Girl Adventure" is wonderful filmmaking, sure to capture the attention of anyone who appreciates historical drama with a human touch. This one is set in Williamsburg, Virginia, during the American Revolution, and the title character displays a tenacious heroism in her quest to do what is right, despite the threat of imminent danger. Felicity Merriman is beautifully played by Shailene Woodley. She is just perfect for the role, with an energetic screen presence, illuminated by a sweet smile that will steal your heart. Felicity's love for an abused horse teaches her, indirectly, how kindness to others can have a "ripple effect" for goodness and justice, no matter that the colonial world has erupted into rebellion. The direction is fluent but not overdone, cinematography is attractive, and acting is uniformly strong throughout the cast. In the interest of full disclosure, I should add that some of the period dialogue does not exactly roll off the lips in convincing fashion, and the special effect of snowfall looks awfully phony, but otherwise I bought this delightful production with no problem at all. You will be happy with this splendid film, which is funny, VERY touching at times, and ultimately inspirational.