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Another Cinderella Story Review

For Families provided by Common Sense Media

OK for kids 9+

Selena Gomez brings fresh pop fun to an old tale.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that tweens will want to see this movie because it stars Disney Channel darling Selena Gomez, star of the TV show Wizards of Waverly Place. Compared to High School Musical, the dance moves are just slightly sexier, and there's a little kissing between teens. Also, girls fawn all over a teen heartthrob to an embarrassing extent, even rubbing up against him suggestively in public. A Zune music player figures prominently in the plot, and the wicked stepmother likes her martinis. The mean behavior directed at the main character is typical of her Cinderella role and played as over the top for laughs.

  • Families can talk about how the high school girls act around Joey Parker. If you had a crush that severe, would you do anything for that person's attention? How does Joey handle all the unwanted attention? How do celebs in the news handle it? Do you think they deserve more privacy?
  • Families can also discuss what made kids want to see this movie -- was it the fact that Selena Gomez was in it? How do you think the producers of this movie went about making sure kids knew it was coming out?

The good stuff
  • message true2

    Messages: Not the helpless heroine message you usually get from Cinderella stories.

  • rolemodels true2

    Role models: Mary is not a typical helpless Cinderella, and she charms Joey by being herself. Joey defies his money-grubbing parents to get the girl. The stepmother figure, Dominique, is supposed to be over-the-top, and she gets enough laughs that there's no taking her bad behavior seriously, even though Mary is expected to do her bidding at every moment. Twins Britt and Bree try to make Mary's life miserable, but they seem pretty pathetic themselves. Joey's conniving ex-girlfriend Natalia is truly mean until the very end.

What to watch for
  • violence false1

    Violence: A mention that Mary's mother, who was one of Dominique's dancers, died before Dominique took her in. A couple of empty threats by Tami to the twin "step sisters" and Dustin in defense of Mary. Someone falls off a stage and ends up with two broken legs.

  • sex false2

    Sex: A couple of kisses between teens. Girls -- and some boys -- fawn all over teen singer Joey Parker; one girl kisses him in the school hallway, another asks him if he wants to make out, and others rub up against him and embarrass themselves to get his attention. Mary and Joey hang out alone together in her room and almost kiss on her bed. A mention by Dominque that some talk-show hosts had grabby hands. Some slightly sexy dancing moves.

  • language false1

    Language: Pretty mild. One "damn," and someone says "frickin'" a few times in a row.

  • consumerism false3

    Consumerism: The Zune music player figures prominently in the story. Mary's friend Tami drives a VW bus. Plenty of celeb-lifestyle shout-outs, including TMZ, the VMAs, E Hollywood True Story, Dr. Phil, TiVo, and YouTube. A funny plug for the fake product "Baby Got Bacne."

  • drugsalcoholtobacco false2

    Drinking, drugs and smoking: Dominique likes her martinis and always seems a little inebriated; she embarrasses herself at parties and passes out one night. Adults drink at dinner.

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© Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

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