Camp Rock

  • Review Date: June 19, 2008
  • NR
  • Genre: Musical
  • 2008
 Review

Common Sense Media says

Disney turns out a fun, clean, surefire tween hit.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

Find out more

Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

Find out more

Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that, like High School Musical before it, this is a cute, upbeat musical comedy that tweens will be dying to see (thanks in no small part to a) Disney's massive marketing campaign and b) the fact that all three Jonas Brothers are in it). More jaded older kids may not entirely buy the movie's squeaky-clean version of teen life, but younger kids will love it -- and they'll get plenty of positive messages about believing in yourself and being who you are in between the catchy songs. Some characters do things that are clearly wrong -- lying, treating other people poorly, acting selfishly -- but they all learn their lesson in the end. Expect some flirting and a couple of near kisses (again, just like HSM).

  • Not intended to be educational, other than teaching kids positive messages about being true to themselves.
  • Strong, frequently reiterated positive messages about believing in yourself and being who you are.
  • Although many characters do plenty of
    iffy things -- lying, purposely getting people in trouble, embarrassing
    others in public, acting better than other people, being rude to adults
    and other kids, etc. -- they definitely learn their lessons in the end. Tess is materalistic and the epitome of a "mean girl" for much of
    the movie, though her behavior has clear causes (her famous mother is
    very distant); Shane also behaves like a self-entitled snot until he
    learns the error of his ways. The cast is impressively diverse, and
    Mitchie -- who makes plenty of mistakes but learns from them -- is a
    very relatable character for tween and teen girls.
  • A few pratfalls and some shouting matches.
  • Many of the girls are ga-ga for rock star Shane Gray. Shane and Mitchie flirt and look intensely into each other's eyes, but that's about as racy as it gets.
  • Words like "jerk," "stupid," "loser," and "shut up" are used infrequently.
  • The movie is part of an enormous marketing campaign.

What's the story?

School's almost out, and the only thing that music-loving teen Mitchie Torres (Demi Lovato) wants to do for the summer is hone her talents at Camp Rock. But in order to afford the fees, her caterer mom (Maria Canals-Barrera) will have to be the camp chef. That doesn't bother down-to-earth Mitchie until she meets rich, popular Tess Tyler (Meaghan Jette Martin); all of a sudden, Mitchie is lying about her whole life in order to impress her snobby new "friend." Meanwhile, bad boy musician Shane Gray (Joe Jonas) has been shipped off to camp to spiff up his image by doing some time as a mentor/counselor. Sparks fly between him and Mitchie, but even their sweet duet gets drowned out when Tess pulls the rug out from under Mitchie's feet. Will everything work out in time for Final Jam?


Is it any good?

 

CAMP ROCK is cute, fun, and full of positive messages about being true to yourself. Sure, the story's predictable and the characters aren't exactly what you'd call deep (though Lovato and Martin both turn in fine, earnest performances), but that won't matter to the legions of tweens who only had to hear the words "Jonas Brothers" to come down with a case of Camp Rock fever. Though middle brother Joe has the biggest role, siblings Kevin and Nick also show up (mostly to provide comic relief) as Shane's fellow bandmates in fictional pop group Connect 3. Naturally, the guys perform a song together ("Play My Music") in a scene that's sure to entertain fans.

"Naturally" may actually be the key word when it comes to explaining what sets Camp Rock apart from fellow made-for-TV hits High School Musical and High School Musical 2. Although the movies have a lot in common -- not the least of which is a sanitized, remarkably unnatural take on teen life -- in Camp Rock, all of the musical numbers (and there are plenty, from Lovato's sincere "This Is Me" to the rousing "We Rock" finale) are organic to the situation. Here, the characters sing and dance because they're performers in training; no one randomly breaks into song in the middle of class or work to move the story along. It's a relatively fine distinction for a tween-targeted Disney movie, but it may be enough of a selling point for kids who aren't normally into musicals to make a difference.


Sign Up Message
Sign up for our weekly newsletter
Each week we send a customized newsletter to our parent and teen subscribers. Parents can customize their settings to receive recommendations and parent tips based on their kids’ ages. Teens receive a version just for them with the latest reviews and top picks for movies, video games, apps, music, books, and more.
Please enter an email address.
Please check your email address for possible typos.
Sorry, you must be 13 or older to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
Sign me up!

What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about why kids want to see this movie -- is it because of the Jonas Brothers? Because of ads they've seen on the Disney Channel? Or just because it sounds like a good movie?

  • What does Mitchie learn
    by the time the credits roll? Do you think she handles her problems in
    a realistic way?

  • Do the teens in this movie seem like real people? Why
    or why not?


This review was written by Betsy Bozdech
Teen, 16 years old
October 9, 2009
 
you should be proud of who you are not lie about it
This movie had some awesome music.... I will give it that. But I couldn't help but lose interest, because all she could seem to do was lie about who she is. She wasn't proud of who she was and I didn't like that. You shouldn't feel like you have to change just to fit in.

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 15 years old
January 4, 2011
 
Who would WATCH this?!
Really? Camp Rock? I think I'll just go cry in a corner... Let me count the reasons why I hate this movie: 1. It has the Jonas Brothers 2. It's sooo predictable. The mean girls turn out to be nice, the main charicter and one of the Jonas Brothers (I don't know which one, I have better things to remember) end up together, etc etc 3. The MUSIC (if you could call it that)... Oh my gosh it made my ears bleed... 4. It has the Jonas Brothers in it (I must remind you of this fact) 5. TERRIBLE acting. "Oh gosh, I'm just so nervous!" *girlish scream and hand wringing* 6. You say "family movie"? Honestly, what dad or older kids would enjoy watching this junk? Only the 4 year olds and the doting mothers. 7. One of the songs goes "This is me, I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be and I'm gonna let the light *voice rises to shriek* SHINE ON MEEEEE!!!". Do you really want your eardrums to burst? Save your money, your ears, and your braincells. Don't watch this movie.

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 18 years old
November 28, 2010
 
*Slams Palm of Hand Against Forehead*
At the Disney creative team meeting: "We need something fresh that the stupid little mainstream 12 year olds will like. How about we ruin the genre of rock, and while we're at it, let's ruin it with the JONAS BROTHERS! That oughta hit home with the kids!" Seriously, this movie is so terrible. How could they possibly call this Camp Rock? It should be called "Camp Pop" or "Camp Jonas Brothers" or something. This movie is a disgrace to the genre of rock. Stay away from it.

Flag as inappropriate 
Adult
June 29, 2009
 
Cat fighting overdone
Although in the last 10 minutes of the movie the main characters learn thier lessons, your child will have watch 1 hour and 20 minutes of back biting, snobbish behavior that she may not be exposed to outside of a Disney drama. That MAY have been toerable except for the dimensionally challenged stock characters and predictable storyline. I don't recommend this movie.

Flag as inappropriate 
Adult
June 11, 2010
 
i just didnt like it end of sentence it was a pointless movie

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 14 years old
December 10, 2010
 
Camp Rock? More like Camp Pop!
I didn't see many commercials for this, so when my sister said she was watching Camp Rock, I said, what the heck? There was one thing. THERE WAS NO ROCK! Disney stars think if they throw some guitars and drums in, they're rock. Kid's think Hanna Montana and the Jonas Brothers are rock stars when they should be listening the music like AC/DC, Aerosmith, Jimi Hendrix, and Airbourne if they want real rock.

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 16 years old
July 9, 2010
 
Its too similler
Oh my gosh I dlsike this movie so very much, I did watch it all the way through, it made my head hurt. The acting is horrible, and you know whats going to happen!! And Michie is a tad pathetic, I mean she lies about who her mom is and who she is just to fit in with girls she doesnt even like! Its pradicable: A new girl comes around and she automaticly isnt consittered 'cool' so she lies, gets into the 'cool' group, that usually consists of wanna be fashion snobs. She ends up having to suck up to the 'ring leader' and she has to constantly lie. She finds one true friend but even ignores her half the time to be with the snobs. MeanWhile the boy of her dreams is stressing with whatever hes stressing with, they meet, but its usually not a pleasent meeting. Girl gets caught in her web of lies and pretty much EVERYONE turns agents her, leaving to weap and cry, mean girl frames her for something she didn't do, the girl hardly does anything to defend herself and cries again, somehow all odds work out and she gets what she wants some how, friends of mean girl turn agents her, the boy that was origionally a spoiled snob ( or best friend of main character ) falls in love with main girl. They reunite and fall in love, main girl ends up being a star or something 'good' Best friend forgives her out of the blue. That, is usually how it is.... in EVERY. SINGLE. MOVIE. Dont tell me I'm wrong because I'm not, the plots are the same, Mitchie may learn to be herself, but she is a brat through most of the movie, there are many catfights and shouting through it out and everything turns randomly. I'm sorry, I understand they are not perfect, but they need to use more creativity.

Flag as inappropriate 
Adult
February 26, 2009
 
Dear Me What Happened to the Classics?
I am 18 years old, and I have to say that I have seen Disney follow quite a downhill trend (in my opinion) over these last nearly two decades. My first memories of Disney were wonders such as "Fantasia," "The Sword in the Stone," "Sleeping Beauty," etc. So I would like to inquire as to the nature of the more recent media put forth by Disney: "Camp Rock"? "High School Musical (What number is the world on now, 3?) 3"?! Whatever happened to the pure artistry and clever plots we once could experience? Where have all the times gone when Disney was actually entertaining because of its subject matter, not due to some desire to please the shifts in demographics? Utterly disgusted, I end my rant. Adieu

Flag as inappropriate 
Parent
September 9, 2011
 
Just read my review and u'll get my poiint
Are you kidding me? This so boring. A movie is suppose to be entertaining with twists and turns and strong characters and this is just....Not. Its basically about A teen who has no friends is not popular , blah blah blah and gets to go to a summer camp witch is based about rock? More like cheesy pop. And then the main character mitchie wants to 'fit in' with the snobs of the camp who everybody is afraid of (for some reason) and lies about her self and her family and basically does a bad preformance and then the movie is over. First of all this is unrealistic. And boring. No story no plot no twists and turns. Its not a good movie. Weve seen this all before the same characters,plot,story. The music is so annoying that not even 7 yr olds will like!! Its just a mistake and should have never premiered. The characters lie to eachother,Make fun of eatchother.... Why can't there just all be friends or whatnot. No good rolemodels. You say mitchie is? She basically lies to every one and has no respect for anyone!! don't watch it, it is sooo bad. this is my opinon but i strongly advised you say NO!!

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 15 years old
May 21, 2011
 
Phenomenal
It is my favourite Disney Movie. Amazing script, great cast, great acting, great morals,and amazing music. This movie is indescribable, its to amazing to describe.

Flag as inappropriate 

This review was written by Betsy Bozdech
Studio:Walt Disney Pictures
Director:Matthew Diamond
Cast:Demi Lovato, Jonas Brothers, Meaghan Jette Martin
Genre:Musical
Run time:98 minutes
Theatrical release date:June 20, 2008
DVD release date:August 19, 2008
MPAA rating:NR

This review was written by Betsy Bozdech
 

Review It

Share your review with others

Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.
About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

 

vote now

Will you see Camp Rock?


Already seen it? What do you think?

 

Been There? Tell us about it