MONTE CARLO

Description

.com Review A graduation trip to Paris and a case of mistaken identity coincide to give three Texan girls an overseas adventure they'll never forget. Friends Grace (Selena Gomez) and Emma (Katie Cassidy) are going on a trip to Paris to celebrate Grace's graduation, but find themselves saddled with Emma's soon-to-be stepsister Meg (Leighton Meester), who's just about as different from Emma and Grace as is humanly possible. The trip starts out rushed and much less glamorous than the girls anticipated, but when Grace is mistaken for British heiress Cordelia Winthrop Scott, the girls suddenly find themselves in the lap of luxury and wind up at a charity event in Monte Carlo. Along the way, each of the girls meets a boy who helps them to mature and discover what's truly important in their lives. This movie has essentially been done before (think The Lizzie McGuire Movie and Cheetah Girls 2), and even with the star power of Gomez, this rendition pales in comparison. Throw in the unlikely pairing of Cassidy and Gomez as friends and contemporaries despite their significant age difference, and the abrupt personality switch that Meester's character undergoes, and the whole film comes off as pretty unbelievable to those over 12 years old. However, tweens are likely to find the characters and situation enticing enough, especially when combined with the draw of Disney Channel icon Gomez, to earn the film a passing score. (Ages 10 to 12) --Tami Horiuchi