Summary
7 tech score
“Little Women” (Pinnacle Peak)
When I learned Hollywood was making an updated version of “Little Women” I wondered how cheesy would it be. There was no way Louisa May Alcott’s story of four sisters living in the 1800’s could be presented in modern times. It just couldn’t happen. Then I saw the “modern” version, and though I was fighting against it, the movie won me over. In my opinion Louisa May Alcott would be proud.
The first thing audiences need to do is toss out any lingering memories of the novel and of any prior movie versions of the story. Just accept it as the story of four sisters living with their mother while their father is away at war. The sisters are good companions for each other with eldest Jo (Sarah Davenport) being the leader of the group and the most intense. Her sister Meg (Melanie Stone) is a calming influence among the sisters, while Beth (Allie Jennings) is frail and winsome. Youngest sister Amy (Elise Jones) focuses on her looks and her artwork.
The story is told in flashbacks from the time Jo is twenty-nine years old and trying to get some of her writings published. Her editor is Freddy Bauer (Ian Bohen) and he keeps rejecting her efforts. From time to time Jo focuses on her younger years when she wanted desperately to please her “Marmee” (Lea Thompson) but her impulsive and strong willed nature always got in the way.
One person she did please was her next door neighbor Laurie Lawrence (Lucas Grabel). He is totally devoted to Jo and encourages her writing talent. Audiences will also learn that Amy has a crush on Laurie who has a crush on Jo. Life is complicated that way.
The young women who play the March girls are virtually unknowns, but they are each talented and manage to create a full bodied character on the screen. Thompson and Grabel, who was seen in “High School Musical”, provide the “star power” per se.
The film is rated PG-13 for some high school partying sequences.
On paper a remake of this sorts should not have worked, but what shows up on screen actually does. It is a homage to the novel which takes some of the book’s basic plot points and gives them a modern twist. You will be surprised how good it is. Just goes to show you should not prejudge a film no matter how sure you are it will be a failure.
I scored “Little Women” a modern 7 out of 10.
Jackie K Cooper
www.jackiekcooper.com
