Samantha: An American Girl Holiday

This movie was terrific! I am 13 and I have two American Girl dolls myself. I have read all of Samantha's books and I found the movie really good! Some scenes sounded like soap opera, and some of the acting was a little off, but otherwise it was great! It must have been really hard for Nellie and her sisters. I would have done the same thing if I were in Samantha's place! I don't know what some thought of this movie, but it was great for me! It was so cool and I LOVED the scenery. The Aunt Cornelia and Uncle Gard sounded so fake sometimes. It was kinda obvious. I can't wait to see the movie again! I was mad when commercial brakes came on because I wanted to watch it! But, it was good anyway!

The story about Samantha Parkington, a privileged girl, who lives with her grandmother played by the wonderful Mia Farrow in Mount Bedford, New York along the Hudson River in the Hudson River Valley about a couple of hours north of New York City. In the beginning, Samantha is playing with Eddie Ryland, her neighbor and nemesis who enjoys bullying people into giving him money. Samantha befriends Eddie's new maids, young sisters--Nellie, Bridget, and Jenny whose mother died. Their father moved them to the country. Instead of working in terrible factories, they work in the Ryland estate in the Hudson River Valley. While Nellie is working there, Samantha and her become close friends despite their obvious differences. When Samantha's Uncle Gardner comes home, he announces his engagement to Cornelia Pitt, a woman's right to vote activist, and he plans to bring Samantha to live with them in New York City. Wherever Samantha goes, adventure follows. I don't know how similar this is to the books but it's an okay film. The acting is okay. The child actors are wonderful in their roles. The film reminds of an old Shirley Temple movie. It's for a family audience!

In 1904, an upper-class 10-year old girl Samantha (AnnaSophia Robb) is living with her grandmother (Mia Farrow) when her dear uncle (Jordan Bridges) comes to visit her with his new fiancée (Rebecca Mader) and takes her to stay in New York with them.

The movie was a positive surprise for me; the story, lightly touching topics such as class differences, women's rights and child labor, is entertaining and charmingly down-to-earth. The visual style is bright and pleasant, and the sets, costumes and music are all careful work too. Not even the cute child actors come across as annoying. Even though the movie is best suited for young girls, it's perfectly watchable for adults too, like a good family film should be.

10 stars

I greatly enjoyed this sweet, gentle film set in 1904, about two young girls who become friends, and the troubles that befall them and how they deal with those problems.

The young actresses playing these roles did very well and made the characters seem real, and made me care about them. All the little girls were adorable.

Samantha is well off financially and lives with her grandmother (played by Mia Farrow - a treat to see her), but Samantha is an orphan and has lost both her parents in a boating accident.

Grandmother's beautiful, old mansion is out in the countryside and Samantha is a little bit lonely, when an Irish lass, Nellie, her father, and Nellie's two younger sisters arrive, to work at the neighbor's home next door.

Nellie's mother is deceased, and her family is poor, so they all have to work, despite being only children. (The film also deals with child labor.) Nellie and Samantha become fast friends, and Samantha is quite resourceful in helping her friends.

I really liked this movie and highly recommend it. Young girls will love it, and it has enough story interest that an adult will not be bored watching it either.

Nellie is one of the children of the hired help. Samantha is a lonely little, rich girl. They befriend each other and are a comfort to one another.

Historically interesting as well. Brings out the way life was for children regarding child-labor in factories. They were more like slaves than employees.

This film really drew me in, mainly because I love films regarding the Victorian time period. But the movie is mainly about the relationship that Samantha has with her grandmother and uncle and Nellie. Everything appears to take a turn for the worse when her uncle introduces his fiancé. Samantha fears that she will now be more alone than ever, but the kindness of her uncle's new wife wins her heart.

Everything in this movie turned out the way that I would have wanted it to. Love conquered all.