Movie Review: Little Women.

Review Written By Michael J. Ruhland

Michael's Movie Grade: B

Review: Though in my mind the 1933 movie will always remain the best film version of Louisa May Alcott's classic novel. That movie is dripping with charm and emotion in a way that is truly amazing. However with that said I am glad to say after seeing the most recent movie version of Little Women that I really liked it.

The movie may be placed in the modern day, but the story remains a delightfully old fashioned one. Jo may now be writing elaborate fantasy novels and zombie-thrillers and the character's may now have modern technology, but most of the movie doesn't feel like it needs to take place in any time period, and it feels like the idea of the film is that the original story is so timeless that so much can happen in modern times. If this was the idea, than the film works quite well. This may not be the most faithful adaption of Little Women, but what it may not capture in all the little details, it makes up for in capturing much of the book's spirit. The relationship between the sisters is still the main focus here and the movie captures this beautifully. The scenes between Beth and Jo towards the end are very touching. The fact that Jo still is willing to work as Meg's "wingman" even though she thinks the whole idea is stupid, reminds us of what we have done for those we love. The relationship between Jo and Amy could have easily been a fault, because there is no sugar coating here, and the two do things that are very mean to each other over the course of this movie. Still this movie handles this very well. You can always feel that both love each other, even when they are at their meanest. They are both so different that they get on each other's nerves and they have a harder time showing that they love each other than any other pair of the March sisters. However we still always feel that deep down they love the other. The relationships between these characters is where the movie shines and it is done so well it easily outshines any faults in the film.    


The idea of putting the 150 year old book into the modern day is a risky one, and leads it to stumble at times. The weakest scenes in the film are the two party scenes. It is true seeing a party that involves teenagers drinking, wearing skimpy outfits and dancing to loud hip-hop music doesn't sound like it belongs in an adaption of Little Women. Truth is I think it could have worked in a movie that tried to completely modernize everything. This movie however doesn't, making scenes that are so strikingly modern feel completely out of place.


-Michael J. Ruhland