Bratz (2007) - Movie Review for Parents

MPAA Rating: PG, for thematic elements
Genre: Comedy/Family
Age range: Ages 9 and up
Runtime: Approx. 111 minutes
Starring: Nathalia Ramos, Skyler Shaye, Logan Browning, Janel Parrish, Chelsea Staub, Lainie Kazan, Jon Voight
Studio: Lionsgate
Release Date: August 3, 2007

Bratz - Plot Summary

Yasmin (Nathalia Ramos), Cloe (Skyler Shaye), Sasha (Logan Browning) and Jade (Janel Parrish) have been BFFs (Best Friends Forever) forever, and now they are ready to conquer the new and exciting world of high school together. Up to this point in their lives, the girls' commonalities have made them close, and their differences have made them strong. In a school ruled by the divisive control freak class president Meredith Baxter Dimly (Chelsea Staub), though, differences separate and alienate.

Meredith has the school separated according to her compulsive clique seating chart, and no one dares cross the lines by associating with those of another clique. Soon, the Bratz too fall into line with the school's status quo. Jade hangs out with the science and home ec geeks, Cloe sections off with her friends from soccer, Sasha becomes one of those snooty cheerleaders, and Yasmin is left alone in her world of music. It is not until their senior year that the girls realize what has happened to them, and what it has cost.

Their resulting decision to shake things up at school meets with Meredith's wrath, and she takes devious action. For a while, it looks like Jade, Cloe, Sasha and Yasmin (dubbed the Bratz) will succeed in helping everyone to see the possibilities of friendship, but Meredith pulls all the strings she has to foil the anarchy taking place at the school. In the end, the Bratz will have only one chance to claim final victory - the school talent show.

Bratz - Guide Review for Parents

With the popularity of the Bratz dolls, young girls of varying ages will likely want to see this movie. The MPAA has rated the film PG for thematic elements. According to the MPAA thematic elements are those that do not fit into easily defined categories such as sex, drug use, or language and "may include death, coming-of-age issues, verbal abuse, illness, abortion, and other serious subjects or mature discussions that some parents feel may not be appropriate for their young children." (MPAA website)

Thematic elements in Bratz can generally be characterized as family issues and coming-of-age issues. Sasha's parents are divorced, and it is difficult for her to cope with the divorce as she often has to be a messenger between them. Jade's parents are very conservative, so she has to change her outfit, apply make-up and re-do her hair after she gets to school each day. Cloe's single mom struggles to make ends meet, and all the girls struggle with navigating the unknown territory of high school.

In addition to the level of thematic elements, some parents may wonder about the kind of role models the Bratz will be for young girls. The movie strongly focuses on positive messages of honoring friendship, respecting diversity, and being true to oneself; however, the Bratz do maintain the dolls' "passion for fashion," and much focus is also placed upon material things, clothes, hair and make-up. Far more egregious than the Bratz' fashion choices, though, is the example of the antagonist class president Meredith. Although she dresses like a goody two shoes at school, a couple of scenes show this wannabe diva rockin' out in some very revealing attire including an obscenely short skirt.

Bratz - Content Overview

The following lists two or three of the most prominent examples of possibly offensive content in the movie (may contain spoilers):

Violence (Mild)
- A food fight breaks out at school and some students insult each other.
- A science geek asks a jock to apologize for insulting a girl. The two boys get into a fight, and one pins the other using some martial arts type moves.

Sex/Nudity (Mild)
- Sasha pulls out her outfit for the first day of school, opting for a "plunge" (shirt with a low neckline) and her "shorties" (short shorts).
- A couple of girls are described as "hot" or "hottie" by guys, and one guy tells a girl that they could do a lab experiment together (and he doesn't mean in science class).

- At Meredith's party and at the talent show she dances somewhat provocatively in sexy dance outfits. Some of the Bratz' moves at the talent show are also slightly sexy or provocative.

Profanity (Mild)
- The phrase "Oh my God" or derivatives of the phrase, such as OMG, are used several times.

Alcohol/Drugs (None)

Bad/Disrespectful Behavior (Heavy)
- Jade dresses to please her parents when she leaves the house, but always changes upon arriving at her destination.
- Meredith wants to rule the school and digs up dirt to blackmail other students. She also acts snotty and mean to some other students, her sister, and her father.
- In trying out for cheerleading, Sasha and another cheerleader show major attitude as each girl tries to show she is better than the other.

Scary Scenes (None)

Sad/Unsettling Scenes (Mild)
- Meredith makes fun of the fact that Cloe's single mom has worked as a maid. Cloe's mom struggles to work hard and provide for her daughter, but Cloe does not have as much money to spend as her friends do.
- After rudely asking a boy "Are you blind?", Yasmin finds out that the boy is deaf. He then calls her ignorant.

Bratz - Topics to Talk About

• Bratz contains themes and scenes surrounding topics such as divorce, fitting in, materialism, cliques, single parenthood, blackmail, diversity and loyalty.