There isn’t just one quick synopsis that can sum up Felicity: An American Girl Adventure. It is a period drama about a young woman named Felicity whose 10th birthday begins her life of becoming a proper gentlewoman. The lessons include taking tea, dancing, proper behavior overall among other things. However the film also taps into the relationship between a young girl and a horse, being compassionate towards those less fortunate then you, America’s fight for independence from Britain, and more, all of it handled extremely well thanks to a great cast.

Shailene Woodley (The Secret Life Of An American Teenager) instantly reminded me of Lindsay Lohan back in her younger days when she was a rising star. Not sure what Woodley is up to these days as far as acting capabilities but this is a fine moment for her. She’s powerful in her more dramatic deliveries, able to shed tears when need be, but she has that natural playful childlike quality that usually goes absent or becomes generically unlikable in some children actors. A perfect casting choice for the character of Felicity. Even Felicities younger sister played by Eulala Grace Scheel (Whip It) is adorable and easily capable of fitting into her role without making it look like acting. Veteran actor John Schneider (Dukes of Hazard, Smallville) plays Felicities Father and veteran actress Marcia Gay Harden her Mother, both offering up great supporting roles. Kevin Zegers also adds a bit to the role of Ben Davidson, a worker under contract with Felicities Father as an apprentice in their store, who wants desperately to serve in the militia and fight for America’s Independence. This character is a key to unlocking a broader insight on the times but Zegers seems only halfway capable of rising to the occasion.

Anna Sandor does a fabulous job writing the teleplay for the film. Though some people have complained about certain deviations from the original works by Valerie Tripp subtracting and mixing up scenes and dialogue between characters the film still carries a rather moving story about one family with all intentions felt. The combination of excellent writing, acting, costumes and props, and a great soundtrack makes this made for TV movie just as potent as any Hollywood blockbuster and a safe family friendly picture for the whole family. Even though I had my doubts, after all I am the Father of three girls and have seen pretty much everything under the sun when it comes to films aimed at them, I found the film to be refreshing and captivating. Really a must see. As always final judgment is yours. Enjoy.

BONUS FEATURES:
~Women In Williamsburg: Over ten minutes of introduction to the town with host Elizabeth Hay as she leads four young ladies through to talk with hosts of several spots such as a Café, Kitchen, and Accessories Store. This is the only new addition to the supplemental area for the film which saw a release on DVD back in 2005.  
~All About Felicity: Runs about 3+ minutes and really only needs to be seen once. Its mostly a commercial for the film.
~On Set With Felicity: The Cameras follow Shailene Woodley as she talks about filming, schooling, and horseback riding lessons. Fans of the film will more then likely enjoy this look behind the scenes.
~Felicity’s Williamsburg: Star Shailene Woodley and Co-Star Katie Henney guide you through Williamsburg offering brief history lessons on the place and the times as well as show off their dance moves they learned from the film. A cute little section kids will enjoy.