Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Boy band tips hat to Beatles in fun, family-friendly film.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 11 parent reviews
Based on 12 kid reviews
Kids say the film is a mixed bag, featuring mild humor and a spy theme that some viewers found enjoyable, while others criticized it as forgettable and clichéd, particularly due to its reliance on stereotypes. Overall, it appears suitable for family movie nights but may not meet everyone's expectations for depth or originality.
- family friendly
- mild humor
- forgettable
- mixed reviews
- spy theme
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Nickelodeon's boy band hits the big time with entertaining results in BIG TIME MOVIE. The story opens as Kendall (Kendall Schmidt), James (James Maslow), Carlos (Carlos Pena Jr.), and Logan (Logan Henderson) jet off to London to kick off their first world tour -- but a bag swap at the airport gives them possession of a potentially dangerous device called "The Beetle." Suddenly they're thrust into a high-stakes tug-of-war between the villainous Sir Atticus Moon (Trevor Devall) and British intelligence agents, not to mention the beautiful and brave Penny Lane (Emma Lahana), who's on a mission to rescue her father from Moon's grasp. All bets are off as the guys turn spies to save the world from a nefarious plot, risking their tour's success in the process.
Is It Any Good?
Strap in for a fast-paced adventure on the coattails of this famous foursome, who adapt to their comical undercover agent personas as naturally as they sing in harmony. The band members bring their trademark charisma to roles that pay homage to the original Fab Four's comedy films and perform renditions of classic Beatles songs. Mix in allusions to spy parody Austin Powers, and this makes for a pleasant comedy (if you can manage to overlook an ill-conceived scene set in London's Chinatown that leans on racist humor and cliched "Latin lover" jokes).
Even those unfamiliar with Big Time Rush are likely to take a liking to the talented teens thanks to their onscreen chemistry. Since the band's formation in 2009, their vocal talent has made its mark on the charts and they don't miss a beat in incorporating the movie's soundtrack -- which features six Beatles songs as well as their own originals -- into the story. The result? If your kids aren't already fans, they might be motivated to look up the band's songs and show for a deeper dive.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about comedy. Did you find Big Time Movie funny? How does it compare to parodies of the same genre you've seen? How does it poke fun at other movies?
What, if anything, does this movie have to say about friendship and group dynamics? Is there a clear leader among the bandmates? Do all of the friends play equal roles in the story as well as on the performance stage? How do your experiences on teams or within peer groups compare to what you see here?
Why is it wrong to don "foreign" accents and use makeup, costumes, and props to play people from different races and cultural backgrounds?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : August 28, 2012
- Cast : James Maslow , Kendall Schmidt , Logan Henderson
- Director : Savage Steve Holland
- Studio : Nickelodeon
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Adventures , Arts ( Music and Sing-Along )
- Run time : 68 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Award : NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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