Smart Cookies

This was a gift for my granddaughter's birthday. She is a GREAT girl scout and has just returned from a visit to the home of Juliette Gordon Low, founder of the Girl Scouts in America. When it comes to selling GS cookies, she is a champ. BTW, I used to buy GS cookies for 40 cents a box. Those were the days.

Celebrating a centennial event last year inspired this telefilm starring the always adorable Bailee Madison ('Once Upon a Time') and telling a surprisingly cute, if not common story centered on the Girl Scouts. It's a script that left me thrilled to pieces by its endearing prowess at its conclusion.Moving from no-where-ville Alaska to a smaller community that actually has a population seemed like a good idea at the time. With a move comes the opportunity for young Daisy (Madison) to make new friends - which is just what her father wanted for her, but she soon realizes that she is quite unprepared to hold together the barely there girl scout troop 114 when the gang of misfits have no leader. Yet, the job falls to her. Enter Julie Sterling (Jessalyn Gilsig), a determined real estate agent who's made her living lying to clients just to get prestigious titles and enviable promotions. Much to Julie's dismay, her boss (Patricia Richardson) - who just happens to be a former troop herself, volunteers Julie to lead the Fireflies as a part of a community outreach. Now instead of neat showings and a perfectionist lifestyle, Julie is car-pooling and trying to lead a group of girls who are each struggling with feelings of being invisible or challenges at home.Julie Sterling, saleswoman extraordinaire may have met her match.Writers - whether they are of the publishing or screen sector, seem to lack brilliant or even mediocre approaches when it comes time to wrap a story; writing really good endings to otherwise sweet stories seems a failing these recent years. Coming from a girl who actually likes fuzzy romantic comedies (even those awkward television films - clearly this movie is proof!), there seems to be an even worse decline when it comes to ending movies. Specifically speaking of this film, I thought it hit all the right strides - there was cuteness overload, lessons learned, a group of kids learning self-worth, and then just when you are nestled in that cocoon of sweetness and goofy grins, comforted that there actually are movies you could show to a ten-year-old, the movie loses it. Like, why-is-are-the-girls-crying, running-after-a-bus losing it. The whole ordeal seemed overly dramatic and more of an awkward scene meant to inspire emotion - what writers tried to do and what they didn't do are two very different things.Distracting from the usual flaws is a fun cast! Though unfamiliar with Gilsig's credits, I liked her in the lead role as well as seeing Patricia Richardson in something again - and of course, the always brimming with personality Bailee Madison was adorable in the role of daughter and girl trying to keep together a failing troop. Also in the cast list is Ty Olsson and Michelle Creber. Several instances of the script were fantastic - like the girl's barbs toward Julie (particularly one of them "assessing" whether or not there is chemistry between Julie and a romantic interest) or the mishaps in the house showings, and then there are the commonalities that an audience pegs long before even the story is ready to reveal them. Once all is said and done, this is a darling charm of a movie. It's got some pizzazz and there are no "baddies" to wish ill-will on. (For a crime-loving fandom girl like myself, that can sometimes be a welcoming breath of fresh air!) It's sassy and sweet - kinda' like a thin mint cookie.© Copyright 2011-2013 Dreaming Under the Same Moon / Scribbles, Scripts and Such

Quirky Hallmark movie around the Girl Scouts Centennial - it also feels a lot like TROOP BEVERLY HILLS. No matter , I enjoyed them both. My background is Psychology; it makes me sad to see the dismissive comments about SMART COOKIES. It's not a G.S.A. TRAINING FILM, it's entertainment - and the basis for discussions about it's strengths - and perceived weaknesses. The girls wound up becoming more than the sum of the Girls - they GREW into a Troop/Family despite the odds (including Julie - who also grew into a Girl Scout.) The movie is what YOU make of it, not just what you watch. Even TROOP BEVERLY HILLS grew. No matter how unorthodox they seem, every girl who wants to be a G.S.A. should be given the chance to join and grow [same with boys and the B.S.A.] - urban, suburban or rural.

This movie is about a business-woman, Julie (Jessalyn Gilsig), who is encouraged---by her boss (Patricia Richardson)---to volunteer asa Girl Scout troop leader [for 90 days]. Julie has a chance to get on the next level of her job to be named “Real Estate Agent of the Year," if she does this. At first she's not interested, but, Julie agrees to meet the troop [The Fireflies].I enjoy Hallmark movies; especially Christmas ones with Bailee Madison.The Fireflies names are----wouldn't you know it!----Daisy (Bailee Madison);Francine 'Frank' Mabel (Claire Corlett);Emma (Maddy Yanko);Mattie (Michelle Creber);and, Paris (Melody B. Choi).I listed the major female stars in this, but cannot remember that actor playing Daisy's dad, but my wife said he was "a hunk".At first Julie only wants those 90 days to be over with. Julie grows to love the girls, and helps them get their merit-badges. When Julie meets the rival Monarchs' leader, (Samantha Ferris) the cookie sale competition... and the fun begins.

Great Story! Love Bailey Madison in almost everything. I was never a girl scout but my niece was. After reading the critical reviews I still loved the movies but they made sense. 5th girl should have been on the cover. I really think her scene where she answered the phone then called out 3+2, with a view, was to show she may be a future realtor. I am not familiar with the semantics of the Girl Scouts but I can perceive the pride they have and I agree that the way the other scout leader conducted herself probably is not truly reflective of the GSOA. However movies are made with an objective in mind and this one was obviously made to honor the GSOA but also to show how to rise above one's limitations and be all you can be. Either love it, or don't. Enjoy!!!!

Really cute story and great acting. Many say this story depicts a leader who may be a little over zealous, but being a leader myself, I find it entertaining that a character like this was written in. I'm sure there are some leaders that are closet over achievers and compete with other troops such as depicted in this movie. We know there are scout parents like this! Other viewers comment on how unrealistic the cookie boothing may be in this movie, or how inaccurate the process may be, but it IS a just a movie, not a narrative. Overall, its a cute movie, with adorable characters, a great "sister-hood" & hardworking message. Movie especially great for Girl Scouts to view before annual cookie season.

Great movie,great cast,some good young actors,funny and entertaining.

Just for fun

This movie is sweet, funny, enjoyable and teaches good values, like relationships and love are more important than success and money. The young girls carry the acting well, especially Bailee Madison. This an encouraging, feel-good story that I would recommend for family viewing, with no profanity, no sex and no violence.

This was a cute movie with a predictable ending but worth watching anyway. I lent it to my ex daughter-in-law and she enjoyed it as well.