With its beguiling central heroine and satire on the social stratas within school life, this first filmic venture from kids TV channel Nickelodeon has the outward appearance of a Clueless for preteens.
Debutante director Hughes gives the visuals a vibrant, bold look and draws natural performances from her young cast. Trachtenberg is fresh, vivacious and vulnerable, managing to be smart-alecky without drifting into precociousness: her scenes with O'Donnell are particularly entertaining. Best of all, however, is Eartha Kitt who camps it up as Harriet's flamboyant neighbour. As is the norm in children's fare, the other adults - Harriet's folks, neighbours, teachers - are little more than cardboard cut-outs. Thankfully, what could easily have been mawkish claptrap turns out to be smart, good-natured and fun.