This week’s family movie suggestion is Samantha: An American Girl Holiday…
Based on the books and the American Girl doll, Samantha, this movie takes place in 1904. Samantha Parkington lives with her wealthy grandmother, GrandMary on her beautiful estate. Samantha has previously lost her parents to a tragic accident and settles into her new life. GrandMary is loving, yet strict, and endeavors to teach Samantha all there is to know about growing into a presentable young woman in the early 1900s. Along the way, Samantha has many adventures, including some hilarious times that involve her rude and inconsiderate neighbor, a boy of about her age, who lives with his wealthy mother.
When three young girls and their father are hired to tend to the neighbor’s home as servants, Samantha quickly befriends Nellie, the oldest, and her younger sisters. Samantha teaches Nellie how to read and they become best friends, despite the wide gap in their social and economic status. When Samantha moves to New York to live with her Uncle Gard and Aunt Cornelia, what will become of the friendship between her and Nellie?
This is a wonderful movie and possibly one of my favorite American Girl movies, although it’s a close tie between this movie and other excellent American Girl movies – Felicity, Kit Kittredge, and Molly. (I will be posting reviews for those movies at a later date).
Samantha has a variety of great topics for family discussion. Loyalty, accepting others for who they are, honesty, dealing with grief, and standing up for what’s right (even if no one agrees with you) all top the list. There is a scene in the movie where Samantha, out of desperation, doesn’t display honesty. Is it ever all right to lie and/or to hide the truth?
There is nothing objectionable in this movie, and one of the things I love about Samantha is that it’s a movie for the entire family (yes, dads and brothers too!), although there is a scary part that takes place in a factory that will likely frighten little ones.
Samantha is a movie of hope and of courage and of how just one person can make a huge difference. I highly recommend it!
For a listing of movie suggestions, followed by archived movie reviews, please see https://pennyzeller.wordpress.com/mom-approved-movies-for-families/
Join me each week for a new movie suggestion of recommended movies suitable for the entire family with reviews written from a Christian worldview.
Penny Zeller 
I liked it!
A good one! I previewed it for my daughter. Other than the exchanges between the boy next door and Samantha I was pleased with the rest. I appreciated the Uncle insisting on telling the authorities and instructing her not to deceive even though she felt it was her only option. I loved the message of adoption even in inconvenience. Thanks for the recommendation!
I agree, Jennifer. This movie definitely had some great discussion points. I think one of the things I loved most was the honest and consistent guidance Samantha’s aunt and uncle provided and the importance of adoption. Thank you so much for stopping by!