Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel

Movie review by Betsy Bozdech, Common Sense Media
Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 8+

Lovely, kid-friendly sequel has more romance than the first.

NR 1987 230 minutes
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Parents say

age 10+

Based on 2 reviews

Kids say

age 7+

Based on 3 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

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What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this sequel to the excellent Anne of Green Gables miniseries (which also goes by the title Anne of Avonlea) is less faithful to L.M. Montgomery's original books than the first movie but captures their spirit well enough to entertain loyal fans. Anne, as always, is an imaginative, enthusiastic, hardworking role model for girls; her impulsiveness sometimes leads to confrontations and mistakes, but she learns from her errors and always means well. There's more romance in this movie than in the first one, including a few embraces, but nothing at all iffy. Expect a few tense scenes and exchanges (including one featuring corporal punishment) and one character's serious illness, but no real violence. A man smokes.

Community Reviews

Miss O.
Miss O. Adult
June 22, 2018
age 10+

More mature themes than in first film

This sequel to the first Anne of Green Gables movie is a little more romantic, mature, and slow, but is still a wonderful film. If you are watching it with young children, there may be a few scenes that need a little explanation, but it is still clean.

This title has:

Great messages
CommonSenseChristian
CommonSenseChristian Adult
February 7, 2014
age 10+

Anne is Back and Better Than Ever

This sequel to Anne of Green Gables is just as good as, and perhaps even better than, the first. Anne is a fully grown adult now, and so some of her tendencies, such as her temper and tendency to romanticize almost anything, have mellowed somewhat. Yet, she's still the same irrepressible character we love, and her costars don't disappoint, either. Adults and teens will be pleased to see Anne's maturity as she steps into a new teaching position, reaches out to a lonely student, learns what true love looks like, and even becomes a writer. The film is filled with great discussion topics, which include: Anne's teaching style and classroom management. What does she do that would be considered unacceptable today? Why is it considered such? Do you agree with her methods? Anne's search for love: what does she learn about love on her journey? How are Gil and Morgan different, and who in your opinion should she have chosen? Why? Emmaline: What kind of life does she have? How could her family make that life better for her? And more! For length's sake, save this one for older kids, but otherwise, you will love it.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
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What's the Story?

Based on L.M. Montgomery's novels Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, and Anne of Windy Poplars, ANNE OF GREEN GABLES: THE SEQUEL picks up the impulsive red-head's adventures a little bit after where Anne of Green Gables left off. Now a teacher herself, Anne is also an aspiring writer, penning romantic short stories and dreaming grand dreams. But after her best friend, Diana Barry (Schuyler Grant) gets married and her friendship with Gilbert Blythe (Jonathan Crombie) takes an unwelcome -- to Anne, anyway -- turn toward sentimentality, Anne leaves Avonlea to take a position at Kingsport Ladies College. There she encounters hostility from the unwelcoming Pringle clan, cold stand-offishness from Principal Katherine Brooke (Rosemary Dunsmore), and romantic interest from dashing, wealthy Morgan Harris (Frank Converse). In her own inimitable style, Anne faces all of her new challenges with good humor and grace ... but is she living the life she really wants?

Is It Any Good?

Despite the fact that this sequel strays much further from Montgomery's source material than its predecessor did, the movie has earned legions of loyal fans for good reason. Follows again portrays Anne with spirit and charm; whether she's in the depths of despair or the heights of joy, her Anne is sympathetic and relatable (if perhaps a bit artificially eloquent at times). Her co-stars are, for the most part, equally skilled -- Colleen Dewhurst is the perfect mix of tart and kind as Marilla, and Crombie is appealingly earnest as Gilbert (his heartfelt Canadian "sorey"s to Anne remain some of fans' favorite moments in the movie).

The movie's Prince Edward Island settings are absolutely beautiful, the score memorable, and the romantic moments both sigh-inducing and innocent enough to be completely age-appropriate for even young tweens. Loyal fans of the books may not like some of the liberties that filmmaker Kevin Sullivan has taken with the plot (particularly in the Kingsport sequences), but ultimately the movie stays true to the spirit of both Anne and the novels, and there's a lot to enjoy here.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Anne. Is she a role model? How is she different here than in the first movie? Can you think of any real people like her?

  • If you've read the Anne books, how does this movie compare? Which do you like better, and why? If you haven't read the books, does watching the movie make you want to?

  • Why do you think the filmmakers might have changed some details from the books?

Movie Details

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