Felicity: An American Girl Adventure (2005 TV Movie) User Reviews (11)

An enjoyable adventure!

[krzykra · 8/10 · 1 December 2005]

This second American Girl movie is every bit as charming as last year's Samantha: An American Girl Holiday. If you are interested in sitting down with your family and watching a handsomely made movie without having to worry about when the next bad word and inappropriate joke is going to come up (two things that plague much of the modern family fare), then this movie is just for you.

We are taken back to 1775 Virginia, when the Revolutionary War is on the brink, and tension between Patriots and Loyalists is mounting. As it is with all the American Girl stories, these historic events are seen through the eyes of a young girl, Felicity, who is tired of having to be proper and longs to be independent. She falls in love with a wild horse owned by a cruel farmer, befriends Loyalist Elizabeth Cole, and most importantly, learns what it means to have courage in a changing world.

As with Samantha, much of the movie is taken straight from the original American Girl stories, which is sure to delight young fans of Felicity and the American Girl Collection. But the stunning scenery, and lavish, authentic costumes, not to mention all the historical references, make it thoroughly entertaining for the grown-ups in the audience, as well.

The young stars of this movie are so good, they almost upstage the adults, although everybody does a nice job of combining sweetness with believability. Shailene Woodley does a fantastic job as Felicity, and Katie Henney gives Elizabeth Cole a nice British accent (Miss Henney is our tour guide through the American Girl Place on the Samantha DVD Special Features). And has anyone ever heard of Geza Kovacs? He makes quite a scene in the relatively minor role of the cruel Jiggy Nye.

Great family fun, and a truly enjoyable adventure!

Felicity- great family film

[sunshinemandy26 · 8/10 · 29 November 2005]

This movie is great for little girls to watch, or for any girl who grew up with American Girl stories. It is a great story in a historical context which helps children understand how our country was born, as well as how girls lived at this time in history. SO family friendly- it has great morals and lessons for children to watch in a movie. Also helps girls to understand a little bit about the divisions that politics bring among people, and how we can love each other regardless of differing opinions. Could lead to some great discussions with your girls.

On the other side, the acting is occasionally predictably TV-movie cheesy...a few cringe-worthy sappy moments, and Felicity's intense love for a horse is uncomfortably obsessive. The best acting in the movie is from little Eulala Scheel, Marcia Gay Harden's (who also plays Mrs. Merriman) real-life daughter. She is adorable as Nan, Felicity's little sister. It is sweet to see such a great actress doing something so fun and memorable with her little girl. I would buy this on DVD for myself and to watch with my daughters in the future. Overall very enjoyable.

Fine Script Really HIts the Mark

[richievee · 8/10 · 7 October 2013]

"Felicity: An American Girl Adventure" is wonderful filmmaking, sure to capture the attention of anyone who appreciates historical drama with a human touch. This one is set in Williamsburg, Virginia, during the American Revolution, and the title character displays a tenacious heroism in her quest to do what is right, despite the threat of imminent danger. Felicity Merriman is beautifully played by Shailene Woodley. She is just perfect for the role, with an energetic screen presence, illuminated by a sweet smile that will steal your heart. Felicity's love for an abused horse teaches her, indirectly, how kindness to others can have a "ripple effect" for goodness and justice, no matter that the colonial world has erupted into rebellion. The direction is fluent but not overdone, cinematography is attractive, and acting is uniformly strong throughout the cast. In the interest of full disclosure, I should add that some of the period dialogue does not exactly roll off the lips in convincing fashion, and the special effect of snowfall looks awfully phony, but otherwise I bought this delightful production with no problem at all. You will be happy with this splendid film, which is funny, VERY touching at times, and ultimately inspirational.

As a Long-Time Lover of the Books, I Must Recommend This Movie!

[notperfect_justloved · 10/10 · 9 July 2007]

I was very impressed with this movie. Actually, I was a little surprised (now I feel ashamed to admit that!) that the American Girls movies are such quality films! So many books that are turned into movies made for TV and such are not very good (and not true to the books at all), for example, the Dear America series.

However, I personally was an avid American Girls fan when I was younger, and Felicity was my first doll and the first series I finished. I appreciated how much American Girls taught me about historical times from the eyes of young girls... perhaps they are not always completely historically accurate in the nitty-gritty details (as one user commented on the black lace on her dress and how Felicity has a non-family, apprentice as an escort), but I think the main ideas are present. She is an inspiring character, and always has been to me. I hope girls will appreciate this work of art as much as I did! However... as a warning to anyone who is a dedicated reader like I was... the movie's plot does not follow the books chronologically. All the important events are included in the movie, and nothing new is added, but things are diced up and mixed around. It confused me a little, but I understand it was for movie continuity. Anyone who has not read the book will not think twice about the sequence, and I'm sure even those who have will be able to forgive the writers!

Excellent family movie

[maialee · 9/10 · 3 January 2007]

We have all three of the "American Girl" movies currently available and this one is my favorite. The plot may sound a bit corny, but it's a captivating story and the cast is wonderful.

Felicity lives in a difficult era -- her father and grandfather, though they live in the same house, are on opposite sides of the issue of American independence. All the adults seem to have strong feelings one way or the other about the war and undertones of uncertainty are everywhere, making it confusing for Felicity and her friend Elizabeth.

Intertwined with this question of American freedom is Felicity's strong commitment to free an oppressed horse from its abusive owner. She is a bit disobedient at times, but you can't help admiring her determination to do what's right, especially given that she lived in a time when a girl's "education" was limited to lessons in dance and tea-service.

The historical value and the human themes make this a fascinating movie for the whole family.

Pleasant and inspiring Revolutionary War era family film

[vchimpanzee · 1 December 2005]

In 1775 Williamsburg, Virginia, Felicity Merriman is turning 10 and learning to be a proper young lady, which is what girls did in those days. But Felicity longs to be so much more. And she gets several chances in this movie to make her world better, not just sit back and let the men and the grownups do everything.

Felicity's father, who runs a store, is a patriot who believes the colonies are being mistreated, but her grandfather who has a plantation near Yorktown, is loyal to the king, and the family gets into some disagreements over this. Felicity's best friend is Elizabeth, whose parents are loyalists. Elizabeth's uptight sister is Annabelle. Ben is an apprentice in the store, but he wants to join the fighting even though he is 15. Nan is Felicity's younger sister, and Rose is the family's black servant.

Felicity falls in love with a wild horse being mistreated by tanner Jiggy Nye, who was a nice man until he lost his wife. Felicity names the horse Penny.

Eventually, Felicity shows herself to be quite mature and quite capable of getting things done, improving the lives of those around her, and, by the film's end, showing what Christmas is really about.

This is a fine film for children of all ages with no offensive content. The acting seems a little uptight, but that's common for films depicting the Revolutionary War era. The story makes it clear that even a little girl can accomplish a great deal, though Felicity seems a little too heroic to be realistic.

Shailene Woodley does quite a good job as the film's hero. Marcia Gay Harden also impresses as the devoted but conservative mother. I also loved to hate Juliet Holland-Rose as Annabelle. Geza Kovacs shows a wide range as Jiggy Nye. I think everyone in a leading role does a good job.

The dancing looked quite good as well. I know nothing about the minuet or other dances of the time, but the choreography looked good to me.

If you're a little girl or anyone who likes warm holiday fare, this is the movie for you.

Felicity

[random_avenger · 5/10 · 19 July 2010]

In the 1770s, a 10-year old independent upper-class girl named Felicity (Shailene Woodley) is living in Williamsburg, Virginia and handling the many challenges life brings to her: taming a stubborn horse, taking care of the family when the mother is ill and choosing sides when tensions rise between the loyalists and the patriots in the American Revolution.

Like Samantha: An American Girl Holiday (the previous installment in the An American Girl series), the film is technically well created: the costumes, music, scenery and photography are all well above the average TV movie level. The story, however, is less diverse and the overwhelming righteousness of Felicity starts getting uninteresting soon. There are also some excruciatingly cheesy moments in the film. Even so, the target audience (young girls and their families) can expect to like the movie alright.

What a delightful movie!

[adnil-2 · 10/10 · 2 December 2008]

I just happened upon this movie last night on TV. And, I was pleasantly delighted by it. It was a nice, wholesome film that also had a great lesson in history. We're taught history in school, but what I've always enjoyed is knowing the "real life" parts of what happened. What were people doing at that time? What were their pastimes? How did they dress? How did they interact with each other on a daily basis? This movie was an example of that. It took a key time in American history (right before Revolutionary War) and explored the day-to-day lives of a family. That's what I love to know about.

I loved that this was a movie that the whole family could enjoy together. It's a refreshing change from what we usually see on TV and in the movies.

Please, Hollywood! More of these types of films! There IS a market for it out here!

Felicity is painful.

[moonspillunicorn · 3/10 · 17 January 2019]

I watched this movie as a child more than ten years ago. The terrible fake-crying in the "you're free, Penny!" scene has stuck with me since then, so I decided to watch it again for nostalgia. Mistake. It was extremely painful to endure. Not a single character in this movie has any depth or development. The dialog is predictable and boring. Everyone speaks in aphorisms. Felicity is a brat-- her actions are not justified, yet everyone rewards her, time after time?? With the horse, the dress... Bleh. The horse girl themes are unbearable, as are the patriot vs. loyalist themes. And why is Ben 15 when the actor is 20? Overall, do not watch this movie, even for nostalgia. Even Molly is better than this. You're freeeeeeeee! -sobs-

I love a good weeper when I'm feeling poorly

[HallmarkMovieBuff · 24 November 2008]

Having stayed up way too late on Saturday night to watch a key football game that I'd recorded while out at a concert, I was feeling feverish on Sunday from too little sleep. By mid-afternoon, when I got home from church, etc., I wasn't up for anything challenging; so in order to recuperate, I went to bed for the easily-watchable American Girl double feature on the Hallmark Channel. This was the second-made, but first-shown, of the two.

This review may contain spoilers, but who cares? This is one of those happy-sad family movies with no big surprises. It has all the required elements of such a film, including the loss, and threat of loss, of certain family members. But you know such elements without my saying, elements which, if well-executed, can make one weep for joy.

When I first started watching, I thought, "Oh, another girl-and-her-horse story. How trite." But it turned out to be more. "More" in this case includes the following.

A. There are no BAD people in this movie, not even one. Not the boy who breaks his contract of apprenticeship in hopes of joining the Revolutionary War militia, not the bounty hunters who go after him, not even the man who abuses his horse in trying to break it, the horse that Felicity loves, trains in secret, releases from captivity, and eventually owns. There are people who do bad things, to be sure, but all are redeemed in the end. ("God bless us, every one.")

B. The title character, Felicity, is especially and particularly GOOD. As played by Shailene Woodley, she is forever bright and cheerful (but not overly so); and of her own volition, she commits a series of kind and generous acts toward others (doubtless due to her upbringing by good and understanding parents, played to type by Marcia Gay Harden and John Schneider), including one beyond expectation (especially for a child of 10) toward the imprisoned horse-beater, whom she had every reason to dislike and avoid. Had I watched this film when it was first released, I might be watching Woodley's "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" today. (Season 1 is on hiatus with but two episodes remaining as I write this.)

I called this a weeper because in my weakened state, the tears flowed perhaps a bit more easily than they would have otherwise. But tissues were not necessary -- the overflow was caught by the blanket on my bed. Needless to say, I recommend this film, whether you're sick or not.

Special kudos go to Valerie Tripp for the books and to Anna Sandor for the teleplay, writers who, along with director Nadia Tass, are responsible for creating another worthy entry in the body of American family films.

Possible Spoiler: Enduring story of a ten-year-old girl named Felicity who just like the horse she befriends...posses a will of iron.

[kimberly_shick · 10/10 · 4 December 2005]

I grew up with the American Girl stories with Samantha being my favorite. Of course I adored Samantha's holiday movie and was planning to show quite a bit of favoritism as I watched Felicity's Adventure. However, I was amazed by what I saw. I had not read Felicity's stories since I was in 4th grade near ten years ago so watching the movie was so refreshing and I actually cried. Set right before the American Revolution we are introduced to Felicity Merriman the daughter of a shopkeeper in Williamsburg, Virgina. Shailene Woodlyn who played the part of Felicity gave such strength and spirit to her role. The rest of the cast did great as well. Every actor gave justice to his or her characters. The costumes and scenery were just astonishing. And ladies...your heart will flutter when you see Kevin Zegers who plays Ben Davidson, Mr. Merriman's apprentice. I strongly recommend this movie to an American Girl fan. The movie explains Felicity's life so well that even those who have no clue of what the American Girl Adventures are about will enjoy this story. There are so many historical references that stimulate thought about ones beliefs. Such as the dispute between the Loyalists and Patriots. When Mr. Cole is thrown in jail for an unjust reason, the characters are forced to choose sides and do as their hearts tell. These references allow for enjoyment for adults. This movie will grip your heart.