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Mandie and the Forgotten Christmas
By Renee Longstreet,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Feisty heroine fights social injustice in slow-paced tale.
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Mandie and the Forgotten Christmas
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What's the Story?
It's 1900, and holiday preparation is underway at Miss Heathwood's School for Girls in MANDIE AND THE FORGOTTEN CHRISTMAS. Mandie (Kelly Washington) is sent to retrieve decorations from the small boarding school's attic, a place the girls are forbidden from entering without permission and a key. But mysterious noises and a fallen hat rack pique Mandie's interest. When everyone's asleep, the scrappy girl sneaks upstairs to find out what's really going on in that curious place. What Mandie does find prompts her to take action and extraordinary steps to change the rules at the school. It's not an easy task. Miss Headstrom (Joanna Daniel) has a long-held secret -- a secret that keeps her tight-lipped, strict, and often sad. It's up to Mandie, some trusted friends, and her Cherokee uncle to unravel both the mystery of Miss Headstrom's past and the means to help someone who desperately deserves her efforts.
Is It Any Good?
Good intentions and a terrific, natural performance by Kelly Washington as Mandie cannot save a weak, contrived script and slow-paced, lifeless direction in this addition to the Mandie series. The messages are sound -- thinking for oneself, taking risks to right a wrong, and refusal to accept prejudice -- but they're given such a weak platform that they have no resonance. The "forgotten Christmas" element never pays off. The would-be antagonist's backstory, which is supposed to explain her behavior, has no bearing on the current dilemma and never accounts for her illusive attic. The depiction of the Native American uncle of the heroine is both offensive and inauthentic. While some performances are solid, others are substandard. Worst of all, the movie lacks logic, motivated behavior, and any semblance of reality no matter what the year.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about creating a movie set in 1900. Other than the obvious (costumes and sets), what are other elements do the filmmakers use to bring a certain time period to life? Think about such things as customs and language.
Is Mandie's behavior (sneaking out, taking the key, manipulating the truth) justified by her goals? Why, or why not?
Describe the character of Uncle Ned -- for example, where he lived and how he dressed. Find out about real Native Americans who might have lived in North Carolina in 1900. Does Uncle Ned seem authentic?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: September 3, 2011
- Cast: Kelly Washington , Joanna Daniel , Glenellen Anderson
- Director: Joy Chapman
- Studio: Bridgestone
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Friendship , Holidays
- Run time: 95 minutes
- MPAA rating: G
- Last updated: April 3, 2023
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