LiliDoc This title rates an "OK" as far as entertainment goes. The script changes a number of plot lines from the beloved Molly McIntire books which may annoy Molly purists as well as students and scholars of the American Home Front in WWII such as myself. (No spoilers here. Please read the books and see the film for those comparisons.) These books are an absolute boon to teaching young readers about the importance of patriotism and American pride as well as sacrifice on the Home Front, tightening one's belt, going without certain things we take for granted and supporting our soldiers. The film made Molly look like a self entitled clueless brat while the Molly in the books was a tireless patriot on the Home Front. Book Molly participated enthusiastically in scrap drives, rubber drives, and paper drives. She did not like the turnips Mrs. Guildford made until her Mother dressed them up for her but she did enjoy experimenting with recipes that helped stretch ration points. Another point is that Molly was very well versed in rationing and ration points and meatless meals. She would not have been surprised at the lack of ice cream in the soda shop and her friends would not have been upset over it.It's just the way things were. In fact, one of the books features a recipe for sugarless applesauce cupcakes because sugar was so strictly rationed. Molly made her own Halloween costumes and Christmas decorations because money and materials were scarce on the Home Front and her friends still had plenty of fun using their creativity to make something out of nothing.This film had several excellent opportunities to examine and expound upon those ideals and simply dropped the ball. The filmmakers also, while pandering to a modern day liberal left, glossed over the fact that in 1943, every child was required to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in public school and did so willingly during this time.Costumes were a nice try but even then, they missed a few key elements and the actors all suffered from half-hearted directing and amateurish editing. For a movie that does not require one to think much, this is OK but it won't teach you or your children much about the American Home Front in WWII.

eshank We watched this with our 7 and 4 year olds and found it a very good family movie that was enjoyable to watch even though it dealt with very weighty topics.I found myself explaining aspects of war to the kids, introducing very current topics as at the time of this writing the United States is at war in Iraq and Afghanistan.I felt this movie helped give an appropriate introduction of weighty topics such that the kids can understand a bit more about their world without being thrown into depression or overwhelmed with things they can't understand.The movie also illustrates the value of persistence, hard work, studying, reading, being polite and considerate, altruism, compassion, helpfulness, and not giving up hope. All of that in such a way that you hardly notice; there's never a sense of preaching or proselytizing.The acting is TERRIFIC... Molly's teacher does an amazing job of period acting, Emily plays her part well and Molly herself is done in a style that is rare in American cinema; a complete contrast to Samantha.That being said I liked the character of Samantha better and there a few flaws in the movie. I have not read the books, so I'm judging the movie entirely on its own merits and vs Samantha which was the only other movie in this series that we've seen.Overally hurray for this movie and the series.

una-20 Due to having two daughters who are obsessive followers of the historical American girl dolls, I've read all the books and watched all the movies. I thought that the Samantha and the Felicity movies were exceptionally well done - true to the books and meaningful in presenting the time they represented for children. The same cannot be said for the Molly movie. This depressing and disjointed movie had little in common with the books and did little to illustrate the time period represented. The writing was just terrible - it made Molly look like a snotty, whining brat, had random cultural things dropped in just for effect(the jitterbug contest on the village green?), and was slow as molasses. I was truly dumbfounded at the poor quality of this film after the other two. Less focus on Molly being miserable and the constant deaths and more focus on the bravery and efforts of those on the homefront and what they were doing to assist the war effort and make due with what they had would have helped. More explanation was needed for children to understand - why would there be a scrap metal drive, or socks and blankets knitted, or rationing? None of it was explained, just dropped in the scenes in passing. The saccharin ending rang very false(I'm not saying what). That being said, the character of Emily and how her story was addressed was, I thought excellent and well handled. The acting was fine, if lacking in passion, but that was the problem with the film and script in general.

carolchic19 I've enjoyed the Samantha and Felicity movies but the Molly movie rocked. Maybe it's just that I am a sucker for WWII movies, but it is also that I thought this was just a perfect movie for 21st century American children to get an idea of what it is like to live during wartime. Maya Ritter did a credible job in the title role; I also enjoyed David AaronBa ker as Molly's dad, and Sarah Manninen as Molly's teacher. But truly, Tory Green did steal the show as Emily, an English girl who stays with the McIntires to keep her safe from the London bombings. Disney should scoop this child up for one of their tweener shows. Very enjoyable, with some cute moments, and some poignancy. I would think most parents will enjoy watching this with their American girls!