Everyone learns moral lessons as well as the ability to overcome whatever is in the way. And there is nothing offensive. This movie is for all ages, but mostly for kids.
Jane Seymour does a wonderful job here. She still looks as beautiful in some scenes as she did in her "Dr. Quinn" days. In other scenes, but not all of the ones where she should, she looks like a feeble old woman. She does it all very well. And I have to say I sort of understand what Mimi went through, except she was hurt worse than I was last January. More of her physical therapy might have been nice to see. I know I didn't give up the way she did, and at some point we would have seen progress.
Omar Paz Trujillo is very good as Luis, who takes care of Picasso.
Sidney Fullmer does a good job too.
Tessa is too cute most of the time. In some scenes she is more than "Cool!" "BEYOND Beyond!" and "Awesome!" But she should have been more than that.
Dylan makes a very good villain, but we do learn there is more to her.
I was disappointed during the opening credits when the music I was enjoying ended only to replaced with the garbage that passes for music in the view of today's ten-year-old girls, which are the obvious target audience here. The good news is there is not a lot of that so-called music. Real music is in the background for many scenes--this is the music without words. Even when Tessa and Dylan sing, if it is with a solo guitar or a piano, it does pass for music. The best song (without words) is used for the scene where Saige is painting a white horse (probably Picasso) different colors. When Saige and Gabi look at Mimi's mural, another very good song starts but quickly gets replaced with garbage.
Regardless of the style of music, the kids who can sing (Saige can't) are talented. Some of them can dance too. The big show is quite a spectacular effort for fourth-graders.
And the art is great too.
It's a worthy effort, definitely deserving of the series "American Girl".
