hile films like “Hancock,” “Wanted” and “WALL-E” have exploded into theaters, a small film aimed for young girls titled “Kit Kittredge: An American Girl” has managed to slip into multiplexes virtually unnoticed.

“Kittredge” may lack the fanfare (and box office receipts) of its fellow films, but it proves to be an interesting experience that should please its target audience.

Based on a popular doll line known as the American Girl (who knew?), the film tells the story of Kit Kittredge (Abigail Breslin from “Little Miss Sunshine”), a young girl living in Cincinnati at the start of the Great Depression who wants nothing more than to be a reporter for the local paper.

But Kit’s dreams and aspirations are abruptly interrupted when her father (Chris O’Donell) loses his car dealership and heads to Chicago to try to find work.

That leaves Kit and her mother (Julia Ormond) left to manage on their own – opening their home to an assortment of boarders that includes a free-spirited dancer (Jane Krakowski), a magician (Stanley Tucci) and a mobile librarian (Joan Cusack).

At first, the arrangement appears to be enough to keep Kit’s family above water financially, but when Kit’s mom and the boarders become the latest victims in a series of robberies, Kit and her friends set out to track down the culprit and recover the stolen money.

I’m not exactly sure what studio executive thought a kids’ movie aimed at girls set in the Depression Era would be a box office success, but that doesn’t mean “Kittredge” doesn’t succeed artistically.

Breslin is a spunky young actress who is a perfect fit for the free-spirited Kit. Tucci, Cusack and Wallace Shawn, as a newspaper editor, are just a few members of a quality ensemble cast that doesn’t try to play down to its audience.

Director Patricia Rozema, whose previous work includes the Jane Austen adaptation “Mansfield Park,” has a keen eye for the period and does a nice job of recreating an era that the target audience probably knows little about.

I’m not sure if this is a film that will interest anyone who isn’t a girl age 13 or under, but it certainly won’t bore anyone else tagging along. With “Hannah Montana” already a hit and “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” sequel about to make its way into theaters, 2008 is proving to be a year to remember for the Girl Power generation.

DVD dandy of the week

This week’s dandy is the 20th anniversary special edition of the cult classic “Heathers” (A), the dark comedy from the late ’80s that has become the standard for current hits like “Mean Girls.”

Winona Ryder plays Veronica, a high school girl who has half-heartedly become part of the in-crowd, even though she hates everyone within the clique.

When Veronica starts dating J.D. (Christian Slater), a mysterious newcomer, the couple decide the best way to get Veronica out of her social predicament is to kill her friends and make the deaths look like suicides.

But the plan backfires when the dead students become more popular than ever – leaving Veronica frustrated and furious.

I remember first seeing this film as a high school senior, marveling in how dark and funny it was – using an extreme to show just how cruel high school can be.

Fortunately, the film has gotten funnier since its initial release.

Ryder and Slater are both in peak form, while Shannen Doherty has a good role as one of the Heathers in the clique.

Written by Daniel Waters, “Heathers” is full of one-liners (many of which can’t be printed in this publication) that are still quoted today. Some of the jokes are very un-PC (including a pop song titled “Teenage Suicide: Don’t Do it” that becomes the rallying cry of the community), but that is part of the charm of this wickedly funny film.

“Heathers” is definitely not for everyone, but if you like your laughs dark then this is a must for your DVD collection.

“Heathers” is rated R for language, violence and sexual situations and the 20th anniversary special edition is now available on DVD.

— Like “Heathers,” he’s definitely not for everyone … but if he’s for you and you’re for him, feel free to contact sportswriter/movie reviewer Micheal Compton by e-mailing mcompton@bgdailynews.com