Prom MPAA Rating: PG Entertainment: +1 Content: +3

Aimee Teegarden, Thomas McDonell, Danielle Campbell, Yin Chang, Kylie Bunbury, Nicholas Braun. Drama-Comedy Written by Katie Wech. Directed by Joe Nussbaum.

FILM SYNOPSIS: Several intersecting stories unfold at one high school as the big dance approaches; Prom portrays the precarious passage from high school to independence as some relationships unravel and others ignite.  For Nova Prescott (Aimee Teegarden), it’s a battle of wills as she finds herself drawn to the guy (Thomas McDonell) who gets in the way of her perfect prom. Fellow seniors Mei (Yin Chang) and Tyler (De’Vaughn Nixon) harbor secrets, while others face all the insecurity and anticipation that surrounds one of high school’s most seminal events.

PREVIEW REVIEW: Aimed at those who have just outgrown the ICarly program, it’s pretty lightweight stuff. The humor is lame, the situations and dialogue clichéd, and the teen cast, unknowns all, though undoubtedly in line for Disney Channel contracts, overact and underachieve. It attempts sincere messages about being yourself and taking chances (“Ask that cheerleader out, dummy! All she can do is say no.”), but for a film so hyped by Disney’s publicity people, it lacks any true energy or substance. This whole coupling of Little Miss Sunshine and her motorcycle-riding Rebel Without A Cause has been done to death. True, it will be new to the demographic aimed at as they’ve never even heard the name James Dean, but still couldn’t those in charge of production found a twosome endowed with more than sleek hair? How many Disney Channel contract players turned this one down before the casting of Aimee Teegarden and Thomas McDonell?

It’s a clean film, it does have positive messages, and the leads aren’t that bad. Come to think of it, that’s my quote for the publicist – It’s not an awful film. That should draw them in.

DVD alternatives:

To Save A Life

MOVIES: The Good, The Bad, And The Really, Really Bad by Phil Boatwright.

Along with 21 chapters that guide you safely through the maze of Hollywood mediocrity and the spiritually unrewarding, MOVIES offers countless references to films, plus spotlights on classics and soon to be classics. It’s a useful tool for parents and concerned moviegoers, one you’ll find yourself coming back to over and over. For more info, go to Amazon.com and place the book title in the search box. New price: $13.45.

Preview Reviewer:
Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures