Molly: An American Girl on the Home Front
Review by Barry Garron
Nov 22, 2006, The Hollywood Reporter
8 p.m. (7/c), Sunday, Nov. 26
Disney Channel
Although unabashedly sweet and sentimental, the latest movie based on the popular line of historic books and dolls also raises profound questions about what it means when your country is at war. The film is set in 1943. Molly (Canadian newcomer Maya Ritter), a third grader, her family and her neighbors eat, sleep and breathe a war being fought oceans away.
Between food rations, blackout drills, bond rallies, clothing drives, scrap metal collections, care package assemblies and the dreaded Western Union telegrams, the war is foremost on everyone's mind. Compare that to the Iraqi conflict in which the administration strategy is to take our minds off the war by asking little or nothing in the way of collective sacrifice at home.
In this charming slice of life drama, Molly learns a few lessons about the hardships of war as well as the joys of friendship. "Molly" boasts an engaging script by Anna Sandor, which captures the attitudes and social fabric of a now-distant time. Plaudits as well to Joyce Chopra for her honest and tender way of bringing this story to life. Young Ritter is a joy to watch, as are the measured performances by Molly Ringwald as Molly's mother and Sarah Manninen as Molly's teacher, whose fiance is an Army officer.
Molly: An American Girl on the Home Front
MPAA rating: G
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