 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Harriet the Spy
- Review Date: February 24, 2005
- PG
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 1997
Common Sense Media says
Fans of the book will want to see this film.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that fans of the eponymous book will love watching an updated Harriet explore her world and write what she sees. The film, aimed at 9- to 12-year-olds, will have these kids squirming in their seats when Harriet meets her Waterloo. But older kids who loved the book will want to see it, too.
What's the story?
Eleven-year-old Harriet M. Welsch (Michelle Trachtenberg) wants to be a writer. Golly (Rosie O'Donnell), her nanny and best friend, encourages her to work toward her goal by keeping a notebook and writing down her observations about everything she sees. Harriet becomes a keen observer for the sake of her writing. Harriet's endeavor suffers a setback when Golly and her parents decide that she no longer needs to have a nanny. Even worse, her top-secret notebook gets into the hands of her nemesis, Marion, the class snob. The snob reads aloud all that Harriet has written, and the children ostracize her. Harriet learns that there is more to people than just the superficial details that she notes in her book.
Is it any good?
Louise Fitzhugh's book of the same title has been a favorite of several generations of girls. They're the best audience for this movie, which brings the story faithfully to life (but moves it from Manhattan of the 1960s to a blander, unidentified city of the present). The problem is that the film too often gets lost amid long, uninteresting scenes involving Harriet, her friends, and their escapades.
We want to learn more about some of the colorful characters that Harriet spies on. The movie spends just enough time with them to catch our attention, then disappoints us by forgetting about them. The only character we come to know is Harriet, who tests our sympathy by writing down mean observations about her classmates. The highlight of the movie is Rosie O'Donnell's performance as Golly, although the notion of an 11-year-old girl with a nanny will seem odd to most people.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how they've have handled being treated badly at school and how they treat their own friends. Parents won't want children imitating Harriet's attempts to seek revenge on the kids who have ostracized her or Janie's "scientific" experiments.
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
My nine-year-old daughter sat with tears streaming down her face while watching the cruel behavior of Harriet's classmates when they turned on her. No happy ending makes up for that.
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AGE
good!!
My sister and I love this movie! We watch it a LOT! The book is really good to though.
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AGE
I lived the Life of Harriet the Spy
When I was nine years old, my mother first read to me the book Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh. I was enthralled by the thought that this young girl could be a spy. Then, when I was introduced to the movie a year later I lived the life of Harriet. It inspired me to start a journal in which I recorded every around me so that I wouldn't miss anything. It took me months to sign my own name at the bottom instead of Harriet M. Welsh.
The movie is full of kid-friendly humor and has a great story line. A must see for any child.
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AGE
Harriet the Spy crazy or enthusiastic?
Having seen this movie i this movie with my two daughter ages 7 and 9 i think this movie is really good. It made my older daughter want to become a spy. She says she won't go into people's houses like Harriet but she will help put away bad guys. Anyone with a child about 7-11 should have them watch the movie. When i was younger my mother read me the book and i would try to act just like her!
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Kid, 10 years old
June 21, 2011
AGE
I don't Know if I can give a title.
The main story is Harriet M.Welsch finds out that she wants to be a spy.And her nanny,Golly,says that Harriet can write down everything she sees.She does that,but writes mean bully things for her friends,and for other classmates.The kids find out about their"things" Harriet wrote down.So the kids make a club,and they do REALLY mean things to Harriet.So Harriet Gets back by doing pranks to every kid that did something mean to her.In the end,the kids all become friends again.What a happy ending.
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AGE
Good story, but you will need to talk to your kids about some things
This is realistic film about a girl who writes nasty personal things in her diary and her friends and classmates find out and all turn against her and bully her. I loved this film and thought the bullying was realistic, but not too intense so that kids could still watch it. The film doesn't initially have a good moral, because Harriet gets revenge on her friends. But she learns from her mistakes. Harriet also goes into the homes of someone and hides and it appears she goes on property she shouldn't be on as well a few times. You may want to talk to your kids about how this is wrong too.
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AGE
Great!
I was a huge fan of this movie when my cousin introduced it to me at age...8 I think? The storyline is realistic, but not boring as some realistic films can be for kids. This film is very funny and will keep kids of all ages entertained. The acting in this movie is quite good. Many people I know who saw this movie as a kid decided that they wanted to follow in Harriet's footsteps and keep a notebook themselves. That encourages kids to be observant (well, maybe a little TOO observant, in Harriet's case). I read the book, too, and I prefer this version. Don't even bother with "Harriet the Spy: Blog Wars" though, that movie was awful.
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AGE
Not at all good.
This movie blowed chuncks.The characters are stupid and the jokes are lame.The story is boring as dishwater and the theme song is just ANNOYING! Its just as boring as that horrible show,Hey Dude.Harriet really needs to dump that boy she has a crush on.Please don't watch this movie!
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AGE
Mexican/Spanish....Random
This movie was a little depressing. It wasn't bad though. I found it wierd by the music being mexican/spanish......random.
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| Topics: | book characters |
| Studio: | Paramount Pictures |
| Director: | Bronwen Hughes |
| Cast: | Gregory Smith, Michelle Trachtenberg, Rosie O'Donnell |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 101 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | February 25, 1997 |
| DVD release date: | February 25, 1995 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | thematic intensity |
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