It’s that time of year when many of us head home for the holidays and take up residence in our childhood bedrooms, which means nostalgia over old toys and the questions that come from looking at them through adult eyes.
If you happen to have a Samantha or Molly doll near your bed, you may look at her with fond memories of that one Christmas (or Hanukkah—if you had a Molly doll it was almost definitely Hanukkah) when your parents finally splurged and bought you one of the pricey toys.
As a grown-up, though, have you ever really reflected on your American Girl’s narrative? What would a walking, talking, Addy doll really say and do?
Lauren Ireland and Anni Weisband’s clever new video lovingly and sardonically imagines the girls come to life. The writing even features nods at the girls’ narrowly defined interests (“Golly gee, Samantha,” quips Molly, “it’s always about suffrage with you!”) and roles (“I used to be a slave,” laments Addy. “They didn’t really write much else for my character, I’m pretty one-dimensional.”).
Any fan of these dolls should thoroughly enjoy seeing how they would respond to each other. When a frustrated waiter seeks out his manager’s assistance, it turns out she’s actually Kit, a less-remembered doll who, the girls announce in hushed tones, nobody bought. The video is both a loving tribute to and a sardonic sendup of all the things that made these dolls so great—and so awful.
Just be careful that you don’t get sucked into the world of the many, many American Girl fanatic videos that will crop up on Youtube when you watch this video. That is, unless you want to improve the sheen of your doll’s hair while you’re home for the holidays.
Screengrab via Lauren Ireland/YouTube