Greta Gerwig's 'Little Women' first reactions: An original take on a beloved classic

There are few people we'd entrust to do justice to Louisa May Alcott's beloved novel, Little Women. In fact, Greta Gerwig is probably the only person I'd trust with a story that means so much to so many people.

The movie has an all-star cast including many of our favourites: Saoirse Ronan, Laura Dern, Meryl Streep, Timothée Chalamet, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, and Eliza Scanlen. But does it do justice to the classic tale? A resounding yes appears to be critics' initial response to that question.

The first reactions to the press screening are in and, folks, it looks like we'll soon have a new favourite movie. Those of us who are diehard fans of the book and the 1994 movie, consider your fears allayed.

LA Times journalist Amy Kaufman wrote that Lady Bird director Gerwig's interpretation of the story "made me connect [with] Jo in a way I never had."

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Kaufman also noted that it emerged during the cast Q&A that Gerwig was pregnant while filming Little Women "but no one knew". Saoirse Ronan "said she thought it was weird that she was wearing 'like seven layers.'"

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People magazine writer Kata Warner described Little Women as "wonderful."

"Heartfelt, moving, and a terrific showcase for its extremely talented cast and beloved source material," Warner wrote.

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Entertainment Weekly journalist David Canfield said he's seen the movie twice and "it's one of my very favourite movies of the year."

He described Gerwig's take as "passionately faithful and gorgeously original".

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New York Times journalist Kyle Buchanan declared it a "fresh approach" but found the "simple plot and character developments a bit harder to locate."

Buchanan said Florence Pugh emerged as the "MVP" in the movie. "She's hilarious and winning as Amy, the character best served by Gerwig's structural gambits," he wrote.

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Sean Fennessey — chief content officer at Ringer — went as far as to liken the movie to the last three Academy Award Best Picture winners, which all "end happily" and show the world as "ultimately hopeful." He said Gerwig's Little Women "is the first movie of the year that does just that. So...front runner?"

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Marc Malkin — Variety's senior film awards, events and lifestyle editor — said the movie "could earn multiple Oscar noms, including best picture and directing for Greta Gerwig."

He added that Saoirse Ronan could land a nomination for Best Actress, Florence Pugh could get nominated for Supporting Actress, and Timothée Chalamet is also a "possible" nominee.

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Writer Jenelle Riley is confident that Ronan will receive her fourth Academy Award nomination for Little Women.

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Little Women arrives in theaters December 25.