Monte Carlo MPAA Rating: PG Entertainment: +3 Content: +3

Directed by Thomas Bezucha. Main Actors: Selena Gomez, Katie Cassidy, Leighton Meester.

FILM SYNOPSIS: High school graduates and best friends, Grace and Emma (Selena Gomez and Katie Cassidy), are joined by Grace’s step sister, Meg (Leighton Meester) on a much anticipated trip to Paris. Their dream quickly turns into a nightmare as these West Texas girls find themselves stuck in a cheap hotel at night and on a crowded tour bus racing through the streets of Paris all day. When Grace is mistaken for a British heiress by the paparazzi, their disaster turns an adventure of elegant hotel suites, banquets and romance in Monte Carlo. Monte Carlo will appeal to fans of Princess Diaries, preteen and teenage girls, and the young at heart. It is fast-moving, funny and has beautiful scenery -- a nice treat for a hot summer day.

PREVIEW REVIEW: How did this happen?? In today’s entertainment world where sex and violence co-star, or 3-D cartoons make car crashes and life-threatening action scenes fun, we find this gem. “ Well,” you are probably thinking, “who wants to watch young adults who don’t have a clue about the ‘real’ world?” Grace, Emma and Meg aren’t what we used to call “goody-two-shoes.” They make some poor decisions, like deceiving authorities about their identity and “borrowing” elegant ball gowns and priceless jewelry.

Uptight Meg irritates Grace and Emma, who eventually all learn from each other. The girls meet very different young men during their escapades, but these relationships do not include one-night stands or promiscuous behavior. Maybe it’s a fairy tale too ridiculous to be believable; on the other hand, maybe we get enough reality in ourl lives – take a break and see Monte Carlo, a reel life movie.

Preview Reviewer: Mary Draughon
Distributor: 20th Century Fox