Movie Review: Molly: An American Girl on the Home Front
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What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that family members and friends enlist
to fight in World War II in this movie, and not all of them
come back home. One character has been evacuated from London
during the Blitz, and her mother was killed in the bombing.
Molly's family is extremely close, and they provide support to
one another during a family member's absence. They also help
neighbors and friends during this difficult time.
Families can talk about the types of sacrifices that Molly's family made in support of the war effort: her father, her mother, and Molly herself. They recognized when something needed to be done and didn't wait for others to do it. Are there ways that you can help others around you right now, perhaps focusing on families who have soldiers fighting in the Middle East? What did you learn about life during WWII? How realistic do you think this depiction of the WWII era is?
Common Sense Media Review
In this heartfelt and entertaining movie, Molly McIntyre
(Maya Ritter) learns about sacrifice, compassion, and
self-confidence as she and her family cope with the direct and
indirect impacts of World War II.
MOLLY: AN AMERICAN GIRL ON THE HOME FRONT moves along at a good clip, interspersing newsreel footage and radio broadcasts in a manner that educates kids about life on the home front during WWII without them even realizing it.
The setting is Jefferson, Ill., in 1943, and Molly and her other friends in the third grade are obsessed with movie stars and their lovely teacher, Miss Campbell (Sarah Manninen). Molly's world changes when her doctor father (David Aaron Baker) enlists and her mother Helen ( Molly Ringwald) takes a job in a machinery plant, a la Rosie the Riveter. Emily (Tory Green), a young English evacuee, comes to live with the family to escape the London bombing and brings with her personal stories of the war.
Over the course of the movie Molly gets a first-hand understanding of the need to sacrifice in support of the war effort, deferring her own needs and feelings to help the greater good. She learns to empathize with her strict neighbor and the initially reserved Emily. Family support takes center-stage in the sweet mother-daughter and father-daughter scenes.
Another plotline focuses on Molly's determination to be crowned "Miss Victory," the lead dancer in a school tap dance show, despite her lack of obvious talents. It's nice to see a young girl believe in herself, no matter what her friends may say.
The period costumes, music, and sets make the story sparkle, though it's an adjustment to see Ringwald playing a maternal figure! Ritter is earnest and enthusiastic in her role, and she seemed more natural than some of the adult actors in the movie.
As a nice touch, the DVD includes a captivating interview with a woman who tap-danced for USO shows during WWII, with dance instruction so viewers can replicate the Miss Victory tap dance.
Fans might also enjoy visiting the American Girl Web site for Molly-related games, recipes, and e-cards.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
