What do American Girl and Sex & the City have in common?
Categories: Kids 5-7, Kids 8-11, Fun & Activities, Places To Go, Media, That's Entertainment
Strange question to ask, but the answer might surprise you even more--a lot. Other than the fact that both are viewed by female audiences, have television programming with big turnout and are being released from silver screen to the big screen, both brands are proving that women of all ages are taking back the cineplex.
In a recent New York Times article, the relationship between the two is explored, along with thoughts about the upcoming release of the American Girl movie, titled "Kit Kittredge: An American Girl" after one of the American Girl characters who tries to make it as a young reporter during the Great Depression. Abigail Breslin, who was recently nominated for her work in Little Miss Sunshine, stars. Among the movie's producers is Julia Roberts. By all accounts, along with the fan base created by the television programming and the characters (they're never referred to as dolls), the movie should be a rolling success.
The American Girl movie, along with Sex in the City, should also provide direct competition to summer blockbusters and action films which are traditionally seen as male-oriented. The products (the, uhm, dolls) are marketed to and beloved by girls between the ages of 7-12. If the movie can win them over, then there's sure to be a sequel, even a trilogy. More than that, the girls who love American Girl characters can be consumers of the brand for life. They can grow up to be the same women who flocked to the Sex and the City movie in droves! Unfortunately, to my knowledge, there are no Sex and the City dolls on the market, but goodness knows they'd sell like hotcakes!
Are you planning on seeing Kit? Are you taking your daughter(s)?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dill 6-13-2008 @ 2:06AM
You do know that the real product is supposedly several series of books? The books came a long time before the dolls were thought up, so it does actually make sense that the characters are "never referred to as dolls". The American Girl series used to be a reasonably educational and well-written set of books about various girls living in different periods of US history. While the commercial juggernaut the company has become is radically different from how the founder envisioned it, I believe the core is still pretty solid.... commercialism aside.
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Anita 6-13-2008 @ 11:19AM
I have never taken my 8 year old daughter to a movie before (yes, she has gone to a theater with her class and other people) but I will be taking her to see this movie. I love the American Girls as much as she does.
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Michelle 6-13-2008 @ 12:34PM
I don't know whether I'll actually take my 5 yr old daughter to see it in the theater, but we have thoroughly enjoyed the Samantha and Mollie movies that were shown on TV last summer. In fact, we recorded them and watch them every once in a while. Maybe we'll wait til it comes out on DVD, or maybe we'll make that a special girl date. According to my MIL, the Mollie movie was pretty historically accurate according to what she can remember from her childhood at that time. And I appreciate that they showcase strong girls while giving an American history lesson.
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Michelle 6-14-2008 @ 11:04AM
My 7 year old daughter and I are counting the days until the Kit movie! I think groups of girls will go see it, just as women did for SATC. We have read many of the American Girl books - she'll read them on her own, but I prefer to read them to her because I like them so much! The girls in the books are great strong characters and the historical aspect really makes history real. "Kit" has us talking about the Great Depression, the stock market, FDR and the New Deal - yes, with a 7 year old and she is really interested in these things! Addy got her interested in the civil war/slavery, Molly -WWII, etc. . . . OK I have to stop now, but I can't say enough about the books. The dolls/accessories are quite expensive, though, we use them as bribes/rewards in our house.
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