Product Details

• Actors: Mariel Hemingway, Michael Caloz, Ben Cook, Ricky Mabe, Chris Sarandon
• Directors: Rodney Gibbons
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Original recording reissued, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• VHS Release Date: September 28, 1999
• Run Time: 98 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00000JKO3
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #24,940 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Mariel Hemingway's stern but upstanding schoolmarm Jo Bhaer epitomizes the mood of Little Men, the video version of Louisa May Alcott's under-celebrated sequel to Little Women. Levity levels hit an all-time low here: it's 1871 Boston, and hard knocks aren't hard to come by, particularly if you're an orphan boy like Nat and his street-smart buddy Dan. The lucky few, Nat among them, find benefactors and land at Plumfield, the school set up by Jo and her husband, Fritz (Chris Sarandon). All is apple-pure at Plumfield--mischief is at its maximum during Saturday-night pillow fights. But then the wayward Dan descends on the Bhaers' doorstep, setting in motion a string of small catastrophes; one boy is bullied into boxing lessons, another is challenged to a daredevil drop-the-knife stunt. Dan gets the boot after a late-night poker game (complete with stolen stogies he arranges for) leads to a fire. He's sent to a stricter school, but his heart's still at Plumfield, and, though he's been banned, that's where he returns. Jo's arms are open but Fritz is reluctant. Only when Dan displays genuine valor by taking the rap for a theft blamed on the innocent Nat is Jo's faith validated; Dan is rewarded with a permanent place at Plumfield, and whatever street-urchin associations still surround him are soon socked away in the history books. As family entertainment goes, Little Men scores major points for warmth and wholesomeness; what it lacks in lightheartedness is made up for in period-piece charm and strong performances. --Tammy La Gorce

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great, November 12, 2000

By	Erin (Eden Prairie, MN, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Little Men (1997) (Spanish) (Sub) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I liked the plot for this movie--but as many people have said, Jo was just not Jo in the movie. But that is okay since the younger actors backed her up. I enjoyed watching Dan as he taught all the boys something in the barn and I would like to see him (Ben Cook) in more movies.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome (for lack of a better word)!, September 19, 2000

By	Laura (Fostoria, Oh United States) - See all my reviews

Little Men was terrific. I had just finished reading the book by the wonderful Louisa May Alcott, and, since Little Women was so good on film, I had to see if it's sequel would overpass it on my top ten favorite movies list. Well, the adult actors and actresses were rather disappointing. Mariel Hemingway was okay in the acting field, but she didn't really look the part of Jo. Fritz was portrayed well, a little mean (ecspecially in the scene where he shoves his fist in Dan and Emil's faces...talk about harsh), but okay overall. Meg was good enough, but John Brooke was terrible. I think it's the fact I saw Little Women first, but Mr. Brooke never looked like that. Even when Demi and Daisy were at Plumfield and he was older, he never looked that old. The boys, on the other hand, where portrayed wonderfully. The actors chosen for the parts were perfect- Nat was shy, Demi was smart, Dan was rough-and-tumble, Franz was substitute teacher for Fritz, Nan was a tomboy, Emil was sea-crazy, and Tommy was just Tommy. All in all, it's a movie I'd like to see again.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Adaptation of the Classic Novel, June 19, 2000

By	"snoogycat" (US) - See all my reviews

I enjoyed this movie. Despite that, I found several faults with it. The casting of the adults in the movie was completely wrong. Mariel Hemmingway just isn't Jo (anyone who loves the book will understand what I mean)! Chris Sarandon was not at all right for Fritz. The child actors, however, saved the movie. Dan (Cook) and Nat (Caloz) were superb. Recommended.