Review: American Girl Corinne Tan - The Movie
- Admin
- Jul 28, 2023
- 3 min read
I've been up for twenty hours straight, I confess. I woke up at 2 am for the release of the Ladybug and Cat Noir movie, and now it's 11 pm as I write this blog post. But I couldn't go to bed when I wanted to. As I was getting ready to go to bed, I got confirmation that the Ladybug and Cat Noir movie wasn't the only movie tied to something I'm obsessed to release today.
After what feels like a million years, the AMERICAN GIRL CORINNE MOVIE IS ON AMAZON PRIME. FOR PURCHASE AND STREAMING!!!!
Of course, I had to sacrifice sleep to watch it and figure out if this 60 minute movie was worth the extra 8 months of waiting and channel hop from HBO Max to Amazon Prime. And it was worth every extra day we waited.
My favorite thing about this movie had to be the acting, to be honest. I know from filmmaking experience that finding talented actors to carry out roles, especially younger roles, is a hard task, but Miya and Kai Cech were phenomenal as Corinne and Gwynn, and the entire supporting cast did great as well. I also really liked the story and writing. Usually, I prefer my American Girl adaptations to be more accurate to the books, but I liked the changes made to Corinne's story to provide more emphasis on a few emotional threads - Corinne's relationship with Gwynn, struggle to find purpose in life and dealing with her parent's divorce and moving in with Arne.
Since the movie was only 60 minutes long instead of 90 like a normal American Girl movie, some things had to be cut, but writer May Chan, who also wrote the Ivy and Julie movie, did a really good job streamlining the story.
As I write this review, I also have to praise the movie for how it depicted a tough subject such as divorce without making it too traumatic for young viewers. I was a year older than Gwynn was in the movie when my parents divorced, and it can be really tough to even deal with, so making a movie dealing with it for such a young age group can be challenging. But like I said before, it was all in the acting, and I could pick up on the nuances of the subject without it overwhelming the whole story. Finally, I enjoyed that just like the Corinne book, there were some authentic references to Chinese-American culture, such as some Mandarin words and Corinne's mom's Chinese cooking.
I have to admit I didn't particularly like the cinematography at the beginning of the movie - it felt a little flat. However, as the movie progressed, the camera angles chosen and the lighting got better, so I can forgive what was initially bumpy. A bit of the dialogue dealing with slang terms, like "stan" (as in Kpop stan) and "sus", was a little weird and probably won't age well in a few years, but those are the only criticisms I can really come up with. You know the movie was good when you don't have much bad to say about it!
This has to be one of my favorite American Girl movies of all time, and alongside Grace Stirs Up Success, my favorite Girl of the Year movie. I'm so glad this movie saw the light of day, and I hope American Girl fans spread the word that it's finally out and enjoy it like I did!
SCORE: 8/10
This is such a detailed and heartfelt review! It’s great to hear that the wait for the Corinne Tan movie was worth it, especially with such strong performances from the cast. The way the film handles sensitive topics like divorce and finding one’s purpose while celebrating Chinese-American culture clearly makes it a standout in the series.
For fans who enjoy seeing these emotional threads woven into a larger narrative, exploring the original Book series is a fantastic way to dive even deeper into the world of these characters. If you’re looking for more inspiring Books to read that capture the same sense of resilience and cultural heritage, checking out the stories that inspired the film is a great next step. Thank you…
This review of Corinne Tan: The Movie highlights how impactful it is to see stories that authentically represent diverse cultural backgrounds and navigate complex family dynamics with care. The portrayal of Chinese-American culture and the nuanced approach to Corinne’s evolving home life offer a meaningful connection for viewers of all ages, proving that well-told stories can help us find our own sense of purpose.
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This is such an insightful and heartfelt review! It’s wonderful to hear that the Corinne Tan movie lived up to the anticipation, especially with how it handled the nuances of family changes and Chinese-American culture. The acting and the emotional threads clearly made a huge impact.
It’s these kinds of stories that remind us how important it is to feel grounded and confident in our own lives. Whether you’re dealing with a big transition or just keeping up with a busy schedule, maintaining a sense of self through consistent routines can be a powerful anchor. For me, that often means staying dedicated to personal care, like a scalp care routine or the rejuvenating boost of a High Frequency Facial. These small,…
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Just some of my thoughts...probably unpopular opinions.
I thought they focused way too heavily on the Flurry storyline, and not enough on Corinne's discomfort/self consciousness at the income disparity of moving to Arne's house, none at all on her friendship issues (which were a little dumb in the book, honestly-I thought it was a little silly that she had so much anxiety about being judged because her *sister* was taking private lessons, but Cassidy didn't even appear in the movie other than as someone Corinne was texting. They could have thrown in a more realistic friendship conflict).
But most importantly, there was NONE of the racism issues Corinne faced and the courage it took her to face off with th…