DVD Reviews

Felicity: An American Girl Adventure – DVD Review

By June L. Mar 18, 2011, 19:41 GMT

Meet Felicity Merriman, a 10 year-old girl who\'s as spirited and independent as the American colonies she lives in. For the first time ever, Felicity comes to life on screen in "Felicity: An American Girl Adventure", a full-length live action movie based on "American Girl\'s" best-selling books. When Felicity meets Penny, a beautiful copper colored mare, she knows with all her heart that she must free Penny from her cruel ...more

For many it may be an unbelievable fact that American Girl dolls turn twenty five this year!  It is true!

These beloved childhood playmates have achieved a quarter of a century delighting us with their ability to connect children with America’s past, and to celebrate this milestone event Warner Brothers has released in a deluxe edition the American Girl story of Felicity. 

Already a favorite film for many families, Felicity’s adventures will undoubtedly make new fans, and spark interest in finding out more about an important time and place in history.

Felicity Merriman (Shailene Woodley) is a ten year old girl living in Williamsburg, Virginia just before the start of the Revolutionary War.  It is a time of change for everyone.  The colonies are growing and beginning to consider the value of laws and regulations sent from England to govern them. 

Felicity is approaching her teen years, and so she must learn the rules of being a proper lady and spend her time with lessons in deportment and dancing.  She would much rather be working on her plans to rescue a cruelly treated horse she calls “Penny,”  but her family insists she give up her “childish” free spirited adventures and settle to the tasks of learning etiquette and the genteel way to pour and drink tea. 

Like the Colonists questioning the rules of an English King who perhaps does not understand how life really works in the new world, Felicity questions the meaningfulness of the tasks she must accomplish to be a lady.  She feels so strongly that she should be doing something to stop the cruelty of Jiggy Nye towards the animals in his care, most particularly “Penny.” 

In this film, the ideas of loyalty and friendship are explored, and blind obedience versus doing the right thing also play a role in Felicity’s story.  She wants to make her Mother happy by being a lady, and to believe in the same things that her Grandfather cherishes, but times are changing and she must make decisions that will perhaps go against their teachings. 

One of the beauties of this film is that it shows the importance of communication, as Felicity talks with her parents, learning  more about how they feel and that their opinions are not so distant from her own.  Marcia Gay Harden and John Schneider play the Merriman parents, and their performances give a feeling of truth and strength and most importantly love for their family. 

These are the qualities that influence Felicity’s life and enable her to be a strong American Girl.

Felicity the Deluxe Edition is presented on single disc in widescreen format with a running time of 86 minutes.  The setting is the actual restored town of Williamsburg, Virginia which adds even more beauty and grace and elegance to an already entertaining production. 

Specials for the deluxe edition include “Women of Williamsburg” which gives audiences a tour of the historic area and was filmed with the cooperation of The Williamsburg Foundation. 

There is also “All About Felicity, An American Girl,” and “On Set with Felicity” where audiences can enjoy behind the scenes peeks and interviews with Felicity star Shailene Woodley.  Finally “Felicity’s Williamsburg” is a guided tour of the town with Shailene Woodley and her co-star Katie Henney. 

Visit the DVD database for more information.