Mandie and the Cherokee Treasure
By Tracy Moore,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Mild adventure has positive themes but simplifies history.
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Mandie and the Cherokee Treasure
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What's the Story?
Headstrong Mandie (Lexi Johnson) is finally reunited with her plucky mother (Hayley Mills) who had believed she'd died during childbirth, thanks to the schemes of a meddling grandmother. Together again, they insist on defying Mandie's uncle John (her only father figure since her father's death) on an adventure to recover a family heirloom from a poisonous gas mine. Along the way, Mandie must troubleshoot through some tricky situations to balance what's right with what's expected.
Is It Any Good?
Based on the Lois Gladys Leppard's The Mandie Series, MANDIE AND THE CHEROKEE TREASURE is a period piece set in the late 1800s that looks way too fresh and clean to feel authentic. The wigs are bad, the accents are worse, the acting is not particularly impressive, and everything feels a bit hokey and forced in an effort to create a quirky sendup of villains and heroes with a positive takeaway, to say nothing of the way African Americans and Native Americans are depicted in the film as happy, well-cared for, willing servants.
That said, it's a well-intentioned effort to create some wholesome family fare that shows kids trying to make good choices in a number of challenging contexts. Particular emphasis is given to weighing decisions and considering alternatives as the characters problem-solve their way out of a fix or two. Kids may enjoy the pioneering themes, Cherokee touches, adventurous calamity, and headstrong teen girl's desire to prove herself and save the day. Although the quality doesn't quite hit the mark and this will win no awards for accuracy, the film's overall focus on clear-headed thinking and anti-prejudice message may just be worth enduring an otherwise lackluster production.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the movie handles the impact of the Trail of Tears on the lives of Native Americans, or the impact of slavery on African Americans. What do you know about the Native American way of life and how it changed after many tribes were relocated in the late 19th century? How were slaves treated in the United States prior to the Civil War?
How is the role of women depicted in this movie? Can you think of roles women play today that are different from the ones shown in the film?
Visit a museum to learn more about the rich, but tragic history of Native Americans in the United States.
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: January 17, 2011
- Cast: Hayley Mills , Lexi Johnson , William Smith Yelton
- Director: Joy Chapman
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: Bridgestone
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Adventures
- Run time: 90 minutes
- MPAA rating: G
- Last updated: June 20, 2023
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