The American Mall (NR)
common sense media says
Cute musical sells songs -- and merchandise.
parents & educators say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that MTV is positioning this made-for-TV movie as its answer to Disney's High School Musical, though it ages up a bit thanks to the main characters' more physical relationship (they kiss). The movie's central message -- that staying true to yourself is good and selling out is bad -- is a valuable one for impressionable tweens. That said, there are an awful lot of attempts to target young viewers with blatant product placement: Thanks to the mall setting, the list of featured brand names is extensive. There's a small amount of mild sexuality, too, but language is pretty tame.
Violence:
Not applicable.
Sex:
Some kissing, and a music video shoot gets semi-sexy. The male lead is also shown with his shirt off and, later, in just his underwear. The only other incident is a comical scene in which a girl eats a hot dog, which makes a guy nervous.
Language:
Pretty tame. Words like "kick-ass," "butt," "suck," and "pissed" are as strong as it gets, but they're each used only once.
Consumerism:
MTV and Sears struck a special deal, allowing the Sears logo and merchandise to be prominently featured in the film. Characters also model clothing that came exclusively from Sears. The fact that the movie is set in a mall opens up the floodgates in terms of embedded brands. You'll see plugs for Yamaha, Pepsi, Pro-Mark (drumsticks), Pretzelmaker (fast food), NordicTrack, MasterCuts (hair salon), Payless Shoe Source, Gap, Finish Line (athletic wear), Clean & Clear, Ben & Jerry's, Hello Kitty, Aeropostale, and Charlotte Russe.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
Not applicable.
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