Television Review: StarStruck
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this squeaky-clean Disney movie is
a worry-free choice for tweens. Sara’s infatuation with
Christopher -- while possibly grating on parents’ nerves
-- may resonate with viewers and raise some issues about our
celebrity-obsessed society and the role the media plays in it.
The story promotes strong messages about honesty, humility,
self-acceptance, and strength of character, inspiring tweens to
have confidence in themselves and their beliefs, even if it
means going against the flow.
A family vacation leads to the chance encounter of a lifetime when Jessica Olson (Danielle Campbell) runs into teen superstar Christopher Wilde (Sterling Knight) on a visit to Los Angeles. Despite the efforts of her celebrity-crazed older sister, Sara (Maggie Castle), to meet the singing sensation, it’s Jessica who accidentally makes his acquaintance -- and the unpretentious Midwestern girl’s nonchalance toward his status throws the pampered star for a loop. The more time Christopher spends with her, the more he likes who he becomes in her presence. But he faces a difficult choice between being true to his feelings and furthering his red-hot career.
STARSTRUCK is bound to strike tween girls the right way with its tale of unlikely love between a handsome heartthrob and an “ordinary” girl. The modern-day spin on the Cinderella story is the stuff that girls’ dreams are made of, and Knight’s good looks and charisma certainly don’t detract from the story’s appeal.
True to Disney tradition, StarStruck manages to spin a romantic web without the trappings of anything sexually suggestive, so it’s mild enough for the tween set. Kids who tune in will also be inundated with positive messages about self-image, self-confidence, and strong character. The movie also raises a number of issues that tweens likely will relate to, including the repercussions of celebrity obsessions and the ability of the media to affect our impression of people and events.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
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