I was a little more than neutral on this one. I enjoyed it while watching it, and unlike far too many adaptations these days, it didn't use the source material as an empty vessel for the creators' political feelings. There was a pretty decent balance between the reality of the time period being depicted and modern sensibilities. The trailer had me nervous on that point.
I was delighted to see some lesser-used tidbits from the book added to this movie, like the scene where Marmee talks to the man who's lost a son (or two?) in the war and whose remaining son is very ill. I also approved of the hints of 4th-wall-breaking, with shades of Louisa May Alcott in Jo's endeavor to get published.
The nonlinear structure was clever. It worked, and it sets it apart from the many other adaptations. I wondered whether it might confuse people who weren't familiar with the story, but it seems it didn't.
I thought everyone did well in their roles. No one really stood out to me. Chalamet was a little too slight and boyish for me and didn't have quite the right kind of restlessness, and for whatever the reason the proposal scene didn't land for me. But I liked Ronan's spirit as Jo and Dern's gentleness as Marmee. I did find myself liking Amy more than I usually do. Emma Watson as Meg was...there.
As someone who knows a little about historic dress at this time, I was constantly and unpleasantly distracted by the costumes, which were, for the most part, incredibly far from correct. I could go on a rant about why Hollywood thinks that viewers can't "relate" to characters who are wearing period-correct clothing, but I won't. However, this mostly applied only to the March women (men are almost always more properly dressed in period dramas). In the background, I caught sight of some SPECTACULAR and generally-correct period costumes (either the costume designed didn't care to modernize the background characters' costumes because we aren't meant to relate to them, or else these people are actual costumers/reenactors who brought their own costumes). Amy's 1870s looks, however, are beautiful and generally correct (so it can be done!).
It's still my opinion that Winona Rider and Christian Bale were the best Jo and Laurie (that version is still my favorite). It's also still my opinion that Jo and Laurie should have ended up together, but I'll have to take that up with L.M. Alcott's ghost. Excuse me while I go conduct a seance...
Oh, and you should all go read the book [if you haven't]--it's very good.