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Lovewrecked (PG, 2007)

common sense media says

Amanda Bynes sends iffy message to teen girls.

parents & educators say
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this is little more than a garden-variety teen romance flick filled with misdirected love interests, catty female rivals, bikini-clad beachcombers, and one super-nice guy who's always passed over by girls for flashier models. Its predictable plot, sensual overtones, and one-dimensional characters will have parents groaning, and the weak female characters -- who spend most of their time falling over themselves to win the affection of a self-absorbed pop star -- may make them pause before giving the thumbs-up to impressionable tweens.

Positive messages: Most characters are shallow and one-dimensional, and there's quite a bit of cattiness, back-biting, and scheming to win the affections of a love interest or embarrass a rival. For most of the movie, the two main female characters are starry-eyed and lustful over a self-absorbed singing idol. Some potty humor involving bathroom issues, obesity, and a farting toy. One character often makes crass comments (he considers them compliments) about women's appearances. Not a lot of diversity.
Violence: The few instances are played for comedy or sex-related laughs, like a girl-on-girl scuffle (which ends in a punch to the nose and a quick glimpse of blood) over a guy's affections, or a young boy pretending to drown so a pretty lifeguard will give him mouth-to-mouth. Some slaps following rude remarks.
Sex: Lots of sensuality, including scantily clad bodies frolicking on the beach, teen girls throwing themselves at guys, and a few kisses. One character tosses out crass comments about women, such as "Check the honey with the money." In one scene, a naked woman on a massage table is shown draped loosely in a towel with most of her breasts hanging out.
Language: couple of instances of "hell," "ass," and "damn." "Oh my God" and "sucks" are common.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.
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More on Lovewrecked

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about dating and romance. How do you know when a relationship is more than just friendship? Is it important to be friends first before dating? Why? Why are people attracted to each other? Parents with teens who have started dating can ask them which characteristics are important to them in a boyfriend/girlfriend. Is their ideal affected by the media/society's definition of what's attractive and desirable?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Recent high school graduate Jenny Taylor (Amanda Bynes) is infatuated with hunky pop singer Jason Masters (Chris Cormack) -- much to the chagrin of nice guy Ryan (Jonathan Bennett). Ryan hopes that spending the summer working with Jenny at a Caribbean resort will lead to love, but the tides turn against him when Jason arrives. Jenny steals away aboard Jason's ship, and when he falls overboard in bad weather she grabs a life raft and hops in after him as the ship sails away. When they wash up onshore with no one in sight, Jason's outlook is bleak, but Jenny sees the romantic potential in having him all to herself and sets out to impress him with her improvised survival skills. But after she discovers that they're really only a stone's throw away from the resort, she turns to heavy scheming to keep him to herself. But then her snobby rival, Alexis (Jamie-Lynn Sigler), drifts up on their beach, dead set on winning Jason's heart for herself, and Jenny's plans begin to unravel.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Though Lovewrecked's premise is fairly cute -- and Bynes' sparkling personality and comedic timing are in top form -- the end result is a predictable story that's brimming with back-biting, bikinis, and batting of eyes. The weak female characters often pose their half-naked bodies to turn guys' heads -- and, unfortunately, most of the time it works. In one memorable scene, for example, Jenny and Alexis wind up brawling on the beach, and, rather than attempt to separate them, Jason just sits back with his island munchies and grins happily while he watches.

In the end, Jenny faces a tough choice and discovers a lot about herself and what she really values in a romantic relationship, but all in all, Lovewrecked is steeped in the same skewed messages about self-respect and desirability that already bombard tween and teen girls.

Movie themes & details

Themes
adventures
Movie Details
Studio: Weinstein Co.
Director: Randal Kleiser
Cast: Amanda Bynes, Chris Carmack, Jonathan Bennett
Genre: Comedy
Run time: 83 minutes
Theatrical release: March 13, 2007
DVD release: March 13, 2007
MPAA Rating: PG
MPAA explanation: sensuality, crude humor and language
This review was written by Emily Ashby
 
 

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What parents & educators say

12

Most useful reviews by all members

arien1993
adult
 
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helped me decide (3) | had useful details (4) | read my mind (2)
kms4dance
teen, 17 years old
 
loved it!
A great movie!
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helped me decide (3) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (3)
Christian gurl
teen, 15 years old
12
 
Watched in french in france
didnt understand a thing
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Voiceofthekids
adult
 
Not too bad
i think it was just plain wierd. I know im not up with whatever fads are going on in middle schools and all, but i think i know enough to know that this kinda stuff isnt hapaning, at least ion my area
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Beckstar
adult
12
 
Awful
This story was unreal, shallow and very boring. I watched this when I was a teen and I did not like it at all. Girls running around in bikinis and half-naked guys are not at all appealing to me. It was all about this girl trying to get the attention of a 'hot' guy. If you don't mind your kids seeing something like this, then go for it
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wainy2011
teen, 14 years old
11
 
Good film
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Princess_baybeh
teen, 15 years old
13
 
perfect for older kids
B*tch is used and ass boobs and stuff which not appropraiete for children under 12
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SurvivedAll
teen, 16 years old
 
actors=great,plot=dull,attention captured=no way. total = two thumbs down
Amanda Bynes is a wonderful actress, but the movie was not a good one. The movie did not keep my interest or my family's. It's about a young girl who has a celebrity crush. They get stranded on an "uninhabited" island. When the girl finds civilization (a whole resort) she keeps it a secret from her crush and hides all signs of other human life. It did not keep my interested and found it to be a bore and a dull plot. ...no offence to any lovers of the movie...I found it to be very dim. Again, no offence. Normally Amanda Bynes would make up for any faults in the movie, but this time she did not. The actors/actresses were fantastic, but the movie, I'm afraid to say, was not.
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ledsoccer
teen, 15 years old
 
This is funny!!!
In lovewrecked two girls are compeating for time with their favorite star after being stranded on an island! The two girls play practical jokes on eachother and get into a fight or two but it's nothing kids don't see at school.
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