Kit Kittredge: An American Girl" was brewed in a marketers' cauldron by evil warlocks who use words like "synergy" and "branding" and "cross-platform marketing."

Usually, when art is used to serve commerce, art loses. When movies are designed -- by committee, of course -- to sell a product, they invariably come off as a soulless commercial.

Well, almost invariably. "Kit Kittredge: An American Girl" was engineered solely to sell American Girl™ dolls, American Girl™ books, American Girl™ clothes and a large array of other American Girl™ products. And yet, despite all odds, the film turns out to be utterly charming.

Here is a movie that overcomes its mercenary origins by sticking to the fundamentals of sound filmmaking: an intriguing story, well-drawn characters who change over the course of the film, believable acting, crisp editing and direction dedicated entirely to serving the story. And on top of that, the movie has a strong sense of place and time.

The place and time in this case is Cincinnati in 1934, at the height of the Depression. As a 'Nati native, I can happily report that the details of the city are well-researched and accurate, even though the movie was filmed in Canada.

Abigail Breslin, who here adds to her reputation as the best actress of her generation, stars as 10-year-old Kit Kittredge. Kit is spunky, friendly and a born leader, an embodiment of American ideals.

Though her family is well-off and initially unaffected by the Depression, Kit sees no class lines. Others point their fingers at the unemployed for causing the hard times, but she says "when times are tough, people like to blame someone, and hobos are an easy target, I guess."

After establishing Kit's credentials as a great little girl (she even wants to be a reporter), writer Ann Peacock brings the Depression home to her. Her father (Chris O'Donnell) loses his job and moves to Chicago; her perfect mother (Julia Ormond, still beautiful) has to take in an assortment of lodgers to pay the bills.

The character actors playing these lodgers lend further testimony to the film's quality. Jane Krakowski plays the husband-seeking dance instructor, Glenne Headly is the still-snooty mother of Kit's classmate, Stanley Tucci is a magician, Joan Cusack drives a mobile library, and Charles Fleischer is the magician's cousin. These actors, along with Wallace Shawn as an editor, are better than you need for a children's film.

But "Kit Kittredge: An American Girl" is better than an ordinary children's film. Adults might not want to flock to see it themselves, but some might want to take the opportunity to borrow a child (if they don't have one of their own) to go watch it with them.

The only place where the film stumbles a little is in the mystery. A bit too late in the film, a mystery springs up that needs to be solved, and frankly this plot twist feels more like it was written by 8-year-olds than for 8-year-olds. The mystery is solved quickly, but also satisfyingly.

And now, if you'll excuse me, I have a sudden and inexplicable desire to go buy a doll.