Harriet The Spy - Twice in One Night

Without Cable or Satellite, we watch a lot of movies.  I rented Harriet the Spy from the library tonight, thinking Laura would enjoy it as much as my oldest daughter had when she watched it long ago.  I was correct.  She watched it once, and is watching again.

I know the movie is cute, and contains some interesting lessons.  I hadn't watched it myself for many years.  Laura really loves the movie.  I'm glad, because she can be picky at times.

The premise of the movie is simple. Harriet M. Welsch is a spy, but not in the typical thriller kind of way.  She just likes watching people and writing down her thoughts and opinions of those she watches... like a journal.  When Harriet's classmates find her notebook where she rights all her observations and thoughts, they waste no time reading it aloud, giving Harriet a lot of enemies.  It shows a girl alone, having lost all her friends.  It also shows a girl having to deal with bullies.  It also shows how painful it can be when you feel like the outcast.  Revenge is not the best option, but Harriet takes some drastic measures to get back at those who have hurt her.  In the end, however, it also shows how apologizing and making amends can turn things around.
 
 The movie is rated PG.  I guess young kids might not understand the teasing and bullying of the other children.  However, most have dealt with or seen worse at public school.