Jem and the Holograms preaches be yourself

Movie:    Jem and the Holograms

Rating:    PG, 1 hour 58 minutes

Grade:   B-

In a Nutshell:   If you’re a 7 year old girl, you’ll like this musical fantasy movie.  This live-action girl-power flick is based on the 1980’s cartoon series about the adventures of an all-girl rock band, although it doesn’t have the humor and high adventure as the source material.

The movie poster advertises that the film is “Truly Outrageous”.  Um….no, not really.  More like “Truly Touchy-feely.”   Overall, it is sweet and has a positive message for girls.

Uplifting Theme:

·         Create your own destiny.

·         Use your gifts to inspire people.

·         Never fear the unknown.

·         “We each have music inside us.  It connects us all.” – Jem

·          Jem tells Rio (Ryan Guzman) “It seems like you’re fatally allergic to positivity.”  A running theme throughout the movie is to think positive and hope for the best.

·         “Don’t underestimate yourself.” – Rio

·         “Time with family, the ones you love most…there’s nothing more valuable.” – Jerrica’s Dad

Things I liked:

·         Fun cameos include Jimmy Fallon, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Chris Pratt, Alicia Keys, and Jason Kennedy.

·         Synergy is adorable…and designed to evoke girly giggles and “ahhhhhs” from the target audience. 

·         The YouTube generation will eat up all of the supposed real clips of tweens whose lives were changed by #Jem.  The only thing missing was sugary emoticons with glitter.

·         Molly Ringwald, America’s sweetheart teenager from the 1986  Pretty in Pink , is aging well.

·         Cool bird’s eye view of LA.

·         I loved the big wooden doors at the Starlight mansion.

·         Starring Aubrey Peeples as Jem, her girl band does make some pretty harmonies.  The politically correct, multi-racial girls include Stefanie Scott (Kimber), Aurora Perrineau (Shana), and Hayley Kiyoko (Aja).

Things I didn’t like:

·         It’s extremely formulaic and predictable.

·         It’s hard to feel sad for a girl who is young, beautiful, talented, rich and famous.

·         With all of his mixed martial art training, we don’t get to watch Ryan Guzman fight or dance like in his debut role in Step Up All In , but we do get to hear him sing.

·         Stupid slow-motion scene of the girls having a squirt bottle fight in bikinis.

·         Jerrica’s dad completely focuses on her and not the other daughters.  I would feel sad and neglected if I were her sister.

Funny lines:  

·          “If squirrels can waterski, we can do anything, guys!” – security guard at Starlight Studio

·         “Valet of the Damned”.   Ha ha

·         “This is a Tetanus shot waiting to happen.” – Shana  

Lines that are supposed to sound profound:

·         The best answer is the one that’s been with you all along.”  Jem   

·         “Jem is anyone who has something to express.  We’re all Jem!  This is our time!” - Jem

·         “A home is where you’re surrounded by people you love and who love you regardless.” – Kimber 

·         “Did you just quote a Beyonce song?” – Aja  

“Yeah, cuz she got it so right!” – Jem

·         “Your destiny can be as mysterious and vast as any ocean.” – Dad

·         “Where you go now is up to you.” – Dad

·         “Come on, ya gotta jump some time.” - Rio

Tips that Erica Raymond gives to the girls to become stars:

1.       Stand tall

2.       Lean back

3.       Smile, but don’t make faces

4.       Look like you’re having fun, but don’t really have fun.

5.       A bad photo lives longer than vampires.

 Tips for Parents:

·          The PG rating is for some reckless behavior by the girls that you don’t want your own daughters to emulate, kissing, a guy with nothing on but a towel, and some profanity.

·         Parents, be prepared for your daughters to paint their hair and faces lots of different colors.  Expect to see the sale of face and hair glitter to jump.

If you or your daughter can't get enough of the magic of Jem, check out these fun items:

Muppets Most Wanted Steals Laughs From All Ages

Movie Title:  Muppets Most Wanted

PG, 1 hour 52 minutes

Grade:   A-

In a Nutshell:   If you love the adorable Muppets franchise, then here’s another installment of fuzzy fun, filled with clever gags, infectious songs, slapstick comedy, and celebrity cameos that will make audiences of all ages laugh out loud.  There is a Muppet for everyone’s taste and seeing them all together is always a treat.  You’ll even get to see some baby Muppets in this one, sure to evoke an “aww!” from the girl you’re sitting next to in the theater.

Funny Ricky Gervais and Ty Burrell sing and dance as main characters in the movie, as well as Tina Fey who plays Nadya, the head guard at the Russian Gulog in Siberia.  Add to that list of surprising triple threats Ray Liotta, Danny Trejo, and Jermaine Clement!  (Triple threats in their case refers to “singer, dancer, murderer.)

The versatile voice talents of Steve Whitmire, Eric Jacobson, Dave Goelz, Matt Vogel, Bill Barretta, and David Rudman bring all of the lovable Muppets to life.  The fun flick is written and directed by James Bobin.

Right now there is a cute animated short featuring Monsters University “Party Central” that plays right before the Muppets Most Wanted. 

Uplifting theme:  Constantine points out in an ironic sneer that the audience will “learn a heartwarming lesson.”  We’re reminded in this movie to appreciate one another and not take our loved ones for granted.

Cameos that are so fast you might miss them:

• I can’t get enough of the punny cameo performances that the Muppets are famous for.  This movie is packed with them, including Tony Bennet, Lady Gaga, Sean “P Diddy” Combs, Salma Hayek, Stanley Tucci, Christopher Waltz, Usher, Kanye West, Celine Deon, Sean Hayes, Josh Groban, Saoirse Ronan and a few more surprises. 
• Miranda Richardson (from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 ) is the woman who yells out of a window
• Toby Jones (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire ) is a surprised guard at the Museo del Prado
• Mackenzie Crook (Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl ) is another guard at the Museo del Prado
• Tom Hollander (Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl ) is the theater manager
• Russell Tovey (HBO’s Looking: Season 1 ) plays a deliveryman
• Ross Lynch (Disney’s Austin & Ally ) plays a flower delivery guy
• Sean Hayes (Will & Grace: The Complete Series ) performs in the opening dance number

Things I liked:

• The opening scene is a clever song that pokes fun at itself and Hollywood sequels, almost as an apology for what you’re about to watch.
• The Muppets traipse all over Europe, featuring the National Treasure Museum in Berlin, the Prado Museum in Madrid, the Tower of London in England (home of the Crown Jewels and good manners), and the Irish National Bank in Dublin, Ireland.
• I thought it was hilarious when Nadya licks her prisoners in the cold Gulog and then sticks them on a frozen wall to torture them. 
• I loved “The Big House” musical number in the Gulog.  Tina Fey Fantastic.  Listen carefully for the voice that comes out of the solitary confinement box.

Things I didn’t like:

• It didn’t have quite enough of the feel-good, tear-jerk moments that made the earlier Muppet movies so magical.
• I always wonder how many advertising dollars are spent on product placement, like when Fozzy the Bear eats a Subway sandwich.

Funny lines:

• “You know what helps at a time like this?  A walk in the fog in a deserted canal.” – Dominic
• “It’s not easy being mean.” – Constantine, the “most dangerous frog”
• “I did not know it’s a crime to steal the show.” – Miss Piggy
• “I have Netflix account with search words Prison Escape.  I have seen every prison escape movie on earth…even ones in space.”  - Nadya 
• “I’m sure Kermit’s not planning some comedy heist bit.”  Fozzy    Walter agrees “Yeah, those never work.”
• Sam, the CIA agent, asks the French Interpol agent “Did you see anything?”  Poking fun at the relaxing lifestyle of the French, the Interpol agent (Ty Burrell) says “Nothing.  It’s my lunch hour.  It lasts 6 hours.”  Later he says “Time for my annual 8 week vacation.”
• “As the saying goes: The show must continue in a timely fashion.” - Constantine

Funny song lines:

• “Everybody knows that sequels are never quite as good…we’re waiting for Tom Hanks to make Toy Story number 4.”
• “All we need is a half-decent plot…” 
• “The lovers, the dreamers, and cheese…” - Constantine

Did you know?

• “Evilin froggen” is how you say Evil Frog in German
• Miss Piggy’s little dog is named FooFoo
• The Muppets get a 5 “Jamon Serrano” review when they perform in Spain.  Jamon Serrano, Sliced Ham - 8 oz is the most famous ham in Spain.  The Muppets perform like hams on stage…appropriate, don’t you think?  I lived in Spain twice and ate a lot of it!

Things to look for:

• Pretty red China plates in the restaurant scene
• Beaker’s unexpected, exploding cupcake
• Piggy’s cute hairdo in Berlin
• Flamingos dancing the Macarena instead of the Flamenco in Spain
• The entire audience in the theater in Spain wears either red or black
• The funky black hats that the police wear in Spain are really what they wear!
• I love Ricky Gervais’ Burberry coat that he wears in Dublin
• The banner hanging at the Gulog show says “Annual Gulog Review. Don’t riot.” 
• Hen who wears a fancy hat at the British wedding
• Wall-E is in the audience at the British wedding
• Stay seated for the cute fireworks and gags while the credits are rolling.
• Giant pink Muppet in the train station and at the wedding
• Signed picture of Celine Deon in Piggy’s dressing room
• The crown made out of forks in the Prison King wears in the Gulog
•  Walter has quite a wardrobe of knitted shirts in the movie.  Check out the watch he wears in one of the scenes.   Yes, of COURSE, you can buy one just like it.

Tips for parents:  This is a “safe” movie for all ages to enjoy.  Yay.

By the way, the train the Muppets ride on says “Robert Stevenot”….does anyone know why?

If you missed the 6th sequel in 2011 with Jason Segel, you'll enjoy that one too!