The Cheetah Girls 2 (G, 2006)

It's the summer before their senior year of high school, and the singing quartet, the Cheetahs, plan to spend the next few months rehearsing. But Chanel (Adrienne Bailon) learns that she'll be going to Barcelona, Spain. Luckily, the Cheetahs find an ad for an amateur musical competition in Barcelona. Fearless leader Galleria (Raven-Symone) gets the group an audition, they make the cut, and Galleria's mom agrees to chaperone the trip. But foreign soil provides lots of distractions for the girls, who go their separate ways far too much for Galleria's liking. Recalling that her control-freak tendencies nearly ruined their friendship, she hangs back and waits for them to return for rehearsals. Unfortunately for Galleria, Dorinda (Sabrina Bryan) has a new love interest; Aquanetta (Kiely Williams) gets bitten by the fashion bug; and Chanel hits it off with a talented Spanish singer whose mom is bent on breaking up The Cheetah Girls.

With the same talented cast, terrific new music, and a thoughtful storyline, Disney's sequel is even better than the first Cheetah Girls. This one is filled with positive messages about self-reliance, loyalty, and strength of character. Lessons about the perils of pre-judging people and the damaging effects of selfishness are intricately woven into the plot. Break-out song-and-dance scenes give the movie the feel of a musical and offer chances for all four singers to shine, which is a positive change from the original and underscores the girls' messages of fairness and respect.

And once again, the girls must strike a balance between their personal goals and those of the group. Their renewed respect for each other highlights the growing maturity that makes the Cheetahs even more likable this time around than they were in the original movie.

Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
Director: Kenny Ortega
Cast: Adrienne Bailon, Raven Symone, Sabrina Bryan
Genre: Family and Kids
Run time: 96 minutes
Theatrical release: August 24, 2006
DVD release: November 28, 2006
MPAA Rating: G
MPAA explanation: all audiences