Who's in It: Emma Roberts, Joanna "JoJo" Levesque, Sara Paxton, Jake McDorman
The Basics: Teen mermaid Aquamarine needs a boyfriend (a k a "true love") to convince her sea-god dad that she shouldn't have to marry this other gross merman she totally doesn't like at all. So it's up to new best friends Claire (Roberts, daughter of Eric and niece of Julia) and Hailey (pop star JoJo) to hook her up with hot lifeguard Raymond (McDorman).
What's the Deal? There are many ways to express yourself verbally, but the high-pitched squeal is the favorite of very young girls, especially ones whose lives revolve around scheming to create mermaid–teen boy romance. This movie is the cinematic equivalent of that squeal. Not that that's a bad thing at all. Just bring some earplugs.
"Sensuality": That's the explanation, along with "mild language," for the movie's PG rating. That's another way of saying that the camera lingers on McDorman's body in slow motion as if it were a Twix bar being coated with gooey chocolate in a TV commercial.
Like Auntie, Like Niece, Minus the Being-a-Hooker Stuff: Just like in Pretty Woman, the best part is when the young ladies all go shopping together and buy tons of cute tops and little skirts in a swirly montage of spending and bubblegum pop music. They also get their hair done, buy new sunglasses and pretend to be models. Then they're ready to go catch their man.
Not Not Feminist: Yes, it's kinda, sorta about snaring a boyfriend at all costs. But not 100 percent. See, the man-trap stuff is just in the service of maintaining their special friendships with each other. See? So it's OK. Cake + eating it = absolutely not politically incorrect.