I have seen at least one adaptation of "Little Women" but that was years ago. I don't remember anything about it except that Kirsten Dunst was so cute as the youngest of the girls and that a young Ryan Seacrest, who I had never heard of, was the host for the broadcast. I just know the novel was about four girls and their mother.
I have this memory of watching a movie set in the present day, but when I watched this, I didn't remember anything except that the girls' father was in it toward the end. Maybe I haven't seen this.
Anyway, I liked it. I wouldn't say it was great, but I like a movie with four adorable and pretty girls with the potential for romance. Though this movie isn't really about Christmas until the end.
I immediately liked Julie Berman as Jo. Not only is she quite pretty, with a nice smile, but she has this personality that isn't too sweet along with confidence and intelligence. And even though we are told the house is cold, she is the one sister who in one scene isn't all covered up when she gets out of bed.
Molly Kunz as Amy is somewhat edgy but not really a bad girl and wow, she looks good when she's really trying to.
Kailin Doubleday as Meg is pretty, and intelligent in a different way than Jo, suggesting she will be rich one of these days, and somewhat shallow.
And Melissa Farman as Beth is sweet but apprehensive.
I like the potential romantic partners but none of them have the strong confidence that one might look for in a movie like this. Mark Famiglietti as Marcus comes closest. But this is a movie about strong women so it doesn't matter really.
The girls don't need men ... well, not that much ... to do the hard work men normally do. It's not shown all that much but it is assumed they do a lot.
There is just enough conflict to keep this from being one of these cute Hallmark movies. And there are a few curse words and just enough suggestions of sexual activity but nothing explicit, though there is a reference to posting nude photos online. This may be a holiday movie (well, several holidays, and Christmas only at the end) about a family. But a family movie? I would say this isn't quite suitable for kids.
I liked it enough. Let's say it's a different kind of holiday movie.
