American Girl: Corinne Tan
By Jennifer Green,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Upbeat doll-inspired tale of girls growing up; some peril.
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American Girl: Corinne Tan
Community Reviews
Based on 1 parent review
good
it was very interesting
What's the Story?
Corinne (Miya Cech) and Gwynn (Kai Cech) have newly moved homes as their mother Judy (Michelle Krusiec) has remarried in AMERICAN GIRL: CORINNE TAN. The girls get along fine with stepdad Arne (Jason Cermak), especially Gwynn, but Corinne isn't settling in as comfortably. They miss ski instructor dad David (Jason W. Wong). It doesn't help that Gwynn has been discovered for her talent in figure skating, seemingly leaving Corinne behind. When Corinne is offered an opportunity to help train an avalanche rescue dog, she feels she might have found her calling.
Is It Any Good?
This film adds to the growing body of doll-inspired films chock full of positive messages and representations. American Girl: Corinne Tan goes a little overboard on slang in trying to bring its characters to life (the younger sister's emoji-speak feels especially scripted). Scenes with their mom preparing traditional Chinese recipes also feel overly didactic. The normalization of a 13-year-old stressing about not finding her "true calling" is potentially questionable -- especially considering her already-advanced skills on the ski slopes. Still, it's hard to find fault with the enthusiasm of the characters, played by charming real-life sisters, and the ultimately good intentions of this tale.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how American Girl: Corinne Tan compares with other American Girl films you've watched. Are there common themes among the movies?
Corinne feels she hasn't found her "true calling." Do you think most 13-year-olds have? How essential is it at that age to specialize in something?
The sisters are part of a blended family, with divorced parents and a new stepdad. Did the family's challenges feel realistic to you? Why or why not?
Corinne's mom says she won't use the easier-to-pronounce (for American customers) English names for her traditional Chinese dishes at her restaurant. Why is that important to her?
Does this film make you more interested in the dolls that this story is based on? Why are movies based on toys made?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: January 23, 2024
- Cast: Miya Cech , Kai Cech , Michelle Krusiec
- Director: Angela C. Tortu
- Inclusion Information: Female directors, Female actors, Asian actors
- Studio: Netflix
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Sports and Martial Arts , Brothers and Sisters
- Run time: 101 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: February 29, 2024
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