From Justin to Kelly

  • Review Date: August 24, 2003
  • PG
  • Genre: Musical
  • 2003
 Review

Common Sense Media says

Idol film expands 15 minutes of fame.
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.

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

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this movie has some mild swearing and sexual references. Kelly objects when Justin and his friends organize a whipped cream bikini contest. Some characters talk about "party" behavior (in mild terms), but the behavior they exhibit would impress even Annette and Frankie. Justin and Kelly share just one kiss. Characters drink in a bar. It is worthwhile to note that there are inter-racial friendships and romances, positively portrayed.

  • None None
  • Mild sexual references and double entendres, whipped cream bikini contest
  • Very mild

What's the story?

American Idol celebrities Justin Guarini and Kelly Clarkson star in this light romance. Kelly's namesake character is a waitress/singer in a Texas country and western bar who is persuaded by her two friends, scheming party girl Alexa (Katherine Bailess) and smart, loyal Kaya (Anika Noni Rose) to go to Miami for spring break. Also arriving in Miami are party promoter Justin and his two friends, party boy Brandon (Greg Siff) and nerdy Eddie (Brian Dietzen). The ensuing romantic intrigue includes jealous Alexa's attempts to derail the romance between Justin and Kelly, Kaya's dates with a poor but proud busboy, Brandon's encounters with a stern female cop, and Eddie's missed meetings with his online dream date.


Is it any good?

 

FROM JUSTIN TO KELLY isn't a terrible movie. It just isn't a very good one. A slight story about spring break romances is the excuse for a series of forgettable musical numbers, each delivered with the same shake-the-rafters power ballad punch. This film tries to be an updated Frankie and Annette beach party movie with cell phones and whipped cream bikini contests, but Frankie and Annette showed more energy, charm, and heart before the opening credits than this movie can manage in all of its seems-longer less-than-90 minutes.

Guarini and Clarkson are game and clearly like each other, but there are no romantic sparks between them, and if there was an American Idol for acting, they would not have made it to the finals. The musical numbers are mildly enjoyable, but at about the level of a theme park variety show.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about why Alexa was jealous of Kelly and why it took Kelly so long to figure out that Alexa was disloyal?


This review was written by Nell Minow
Adult
April 9, 2008
 
OMG!
DO NOT BE FOOLED BY THE PG RATING! THIS MOVIE IS A DEFINITE PG-13! First, im shocked that this is only PG, considering all of the sexual stuff, and all the teen drinking. There are references to whipped cream bikini contest, obsession with boobs, starring at boobs, "getting laid," butt slapping, lots of sexual dancing and grinding, lots of scantily clad women in very small, tight bikinis, objectifying women, stereotyping men AND women, and much, much MUCH teen drinking. i have NO idea why CMS said this was only 8+. I would say at LEAST 13+. on top of all of that, this has to have been about the pathetically worst movie i have ever seen in my entire life. The directot or whoever was bent on making Justin and Kelly be "in with it," by making their songs almost hip hop/rnb even, when they are pop. On top of that this movie did not make Justin look cooler, it just made him look even more like a loser and a poser. This movie was so bad, that I hardly even got 20 minutes into it when i decided to stop. one last thing: everyone had fake, annoying, and REALLY unrealistic southern accents that they would sometimes seem to forget about because they would flip from northern to southern suddenly when the realized. I would not recommend this movie to ANYONE, but if you are completely desparate, than only to kids 14+. LOTS OF SEX FOR A PG RATED MOVIE.

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Teen, 16 years old
February 18, 2009
 

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
Time's up!
This is a bad example of how 15 more minuets of fame can go completly and udderly wrong. Lots of achohol is consumed

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
Want to see a better movie than "Chicago"? Look no further!
Honestly! "From Justin to Kelly" was a top-notch movie, surpassing the musical greatness of this year's Oscar winner. Unlike "Crossroads," this pop movie had a real, complex plot and deep characters. Some of the script was cheesy, but the acting was phenomenal. The singing, acting, and dancing was all so much fun to observe! I am not urging you to see this movie as an American Idol fan, but as a movie goer, who is often skeptical about today's movies. Musical lovers, and those who want to laugh and feel other emotions other than fear will absolutely adore the movie! I only wish there was to be a soundtrack! I hope that Justin and Kelly continue their movie persuits and the future American Idol winners continue on the path J2K created for them. I rate this movie two thumbs up, A+, for people who like humorous musicals!

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Teen, 18 years old
October 15, 2010
 
perfect for teenagers and above...
i love it!! it is so romantic that i wish that was me>>>>

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Kid, 10 years old
May 22, 2012
 
HORRIBLE HORRIBLE MOVIE
I admire Kelly's atempt at a film career but come on we all know this is the worst movie ever.Music is her calling so she should stick to music JUST MUSIC

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This review was written by Nell Minow
Topics:music and sing-along
Studio:Twentieth Century Fox
Director:Robert Iscove
Cast:Justin Guarini, Katherine Bailess, Kelly Clarkson
Genre:Musical
Run time:90 minutes
Theatrical release date:June 20, 2003
DVD release date:August 26, 2003
MPAA rating:PG
MPAA explanation:thematic elements, sensuality and brief language

This review was written by Nell Minow
 

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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.
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BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
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