Annie

Of all the films based on an original premise, "Annie" has probably the oldest or certainly one of the oldest origins, dating back to 1894 when "Little Orphan Annie" was first published. There has been several incarnations since then in print, other films and plays. When "Little Orphan Annie" published its last comic strip back in 1968, there was a while where this little girl wasn't popularized until much later.

This is the retelling of the story about Annie (Quvenzhane Wallis), a young, happy foster kid who's also tough enough to make her way on the streets of New York in 2014. Originally left by her parents as a baby with the promise that they'd be back for her someday, it's been a hard knock life ever since her mean foster mom, Miss Hannigan (Cameron Diaz) had been raising her. But everything's about to change when the hard-nosed tycoon and New York mayoral candidate Will Stacks (Jamie Foxx)-- advised by his brilliant VP, Grace (Rose Byrne) and his shrewd and scheming campaign advisor, Guy (Bobby Cannavale)-- makes a thinly veiled campaign move and takes her in after he saved her from being hit by a van. Stacks believes he's her guardian angel, but Annie's self-assured nature and bright, sun-will-come-out-tomorrow outlook on life just might mean it's the other way around.

Others to round out the cast are Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Nash, head of security, David Zayas as Lou, Zoe Margaret Colletti as Tessie, Nicolette Pierini as Mia, Eden Duncan-Smith as Isabella, Amanda Troya as Pepper, Dorian Missick as Annie's "dad", Tracie Thoms as Annie's "mom" and Mike Birbiglia as Social Services Inspector.

This was effectively and adequately directed by Will Gluck ("Fired Up! '09, "Easy A" '10, "Friends with Benefits" '11, "Iceland" (TV movie) '11). For a filmmaker that, first of all, doesn't have a ton of directing experience under his belt and secondly, has never directed a musical, scored big time, because directing musicals as opposed to comedies is incredibly different. In musicals, the timing is so different as is the pacing--there's choreography. This had to be quite a feat for Gluck to endeavor and he pulled it off expertly. It was written by Gluck and Aline Brosh McKenna based on the stage play book by Thomas Meehan which is based on the comic strip "Little Orphan Annie" as stated above by Harold Gray. For an updated version of a very old comic strip, this modern version was well conveyed in that a lot of audiences could identify with the different characters in this--seeing them going through some of the same things we all go through today. Of course, as with the musical, "Annie" with music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin, this gives the film the lightness a lot of audiences will like, especially families, at a time of year that we all want to feel good right where we're at.

As musicals go, no this is no "Les Miserables", but this is certainly a fun-filled comedy for one and all to enjoy during this Christmas season when we all want that warm and fuzzy feeling when we go to the multiplex.

Out of 4 Stars: 3                            Rated: PG                           118mins.