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Abigail Breslin in ”Kit Kittredge: An American Girl” 

Rating: 78 

Possibly the biggest surprise about “Kit Kittredge: An American Girl” is that it is the best live-action family film in a disconcertingly long time. This is a beautifully directed, smart movie with good messages, gentle humor and a sense of history, but it never feels like homework — it is good and good for you.

Kit Kittredge (Abigail Breslin) is a precocious 11-year-old living in Cincinnati in the early ‘30s, when the Great Depression caused belt-tightening even among the well-heeled classes. Kit spends most days in her treehouse tapping out neighborhood news stories on her typewriter, hoping to be a world-class journalist someday. Her father (Chris O’Donnell) runs a car dealership, and her mother (Julia Ormond) is a kind and generous woman of leisure. When young hobos, as they were called back then, wander through the Kittredges’ neighborhood looking for work, she finds odd jobs for them and brings out food.

Before long, the hard times impact the Kittredges: The bank forecloses on the car dealership and Mr. Kittredge leaves to find work in Chicago, leaving his family to take in borders in the spare rooms. A colorful cast of people soon fills the Kittredge home, including magician Jefferson Berk (Stanley Tucci), Miss Dooley the chorus dancer (Jane Krakowski of “30 Rock”), mobile librarian Miss Bond (Joan Cusack) and Mrs. Howard (Glenne Headly), the haughty neighbor who loses her home to the bank.

There’s plenty of fun to be had in the home, but soon things start disappearing. The rash of burglaries is blamed on area hobos, including the young Will (Max Thieriot) and his sidekick, Countee (Willow Smith), but Kit, who’s bucking to get a story published by the local newspaper editor (Wallace Shawn), suspects that Will and Countee are being set up.

Director Patricia Rozema (“Mansfield Park”) and screenwriter Ann Peacock deliver a story that never condescends — children who see “Kit Kittredge” will appreciate that everyone involved seems interested in making the best film possible based on Valerie Tripp’s stories. Furthermore, adults won’t be looking for excuses to leave their seats, and the difficult subjects of class-consciousness and homelessness are treated seriously but without much speechifying.

Breslin (“Little Miss Sunshine”) continues her streak of great performances, and the adult cast is continually engaging. Do not be put off that this is part of the massive “American Girl” doll empire or be wary that this is all about synergy. “Kit Kittredge: An American Girl” is an uncommonly entertaining family film, one that others should aspire to match.

– GL