This latest cinematic adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's 1868 eponymous Civil War classic asks a fundamental question: can little women produce “something of value”? It isn't clear who is asking the question: Greta Gerwig, the youngish, artsy director, or Sony Pictures, the sales-driven, diversity-obsessed octopus of a movie studio?
In just two hours, Gerwig does her best to accommodate commercial demands while bringing her sophisticated artistic touch to this reinterpretation of a New England novel cherished by many. Buoyed by star power with the likes of Meryl Streep, Laura Dern, Emma Watson and Timothée Chalamet, the film manages to remain lightly choreographed and entertaining thanks to Gerwig's unquestionable talent.
