The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie (NR, 2007)

THE NAKED BROTHERS BAND MOVIE chronicles the life and times of a kid band that's led by two very talented singing and songwriting brothers, Nat (age 9) and Alex Wolff (age 6). The mockumentary follows the band through their concerts, rehearsals, and road trips, recording their thoughts on fame, girls, and early adolescence. The cameras capture the ups and downs of life in the spotlight as members open up in individual interviews about their struggles with friendships tested by rising egos and the group's eventual breakdown over creative differences. In real life, the talented Wolff brothers began performing with preschool friends at a young age as The Naked Brothers Band; original band members Joshua Kaye, David Levi, and Thomas Batuello sing alongside the Wolff boys in the movie. Nat and Alex's dad -- jazz musician Michael Wolff (The Arsenio Hall Show) -- also joins the family affair as his sons' onscreen father.

Created and directed by actress Polly Draper (thirtysomething), this high-concept movie is the brainchild of her sons and the film's stars, Nat and Alex. The film strives for the feel mastered by This Is Spinal Tap, and the premise is intriguing and certainly offers a tongue-in-cheek view of a celebrity-obsessed culture that idolizes even the youngest performers.

But most of the subtle satire will probably be missed by tween viewers unfamiliar with the trademark turbulence of many musical groups -- essential background for grasping the movie's humor. Young audiences instead will see only the band members' unrealistic, glorified lifestyle: they don't attend school, they seem to have limitless free time for sitting around talking about themselves, and they often enjoy basking in their own popularity.

Studio: Paramount Pictures
Director: Polly Draper
Cast: Alex Wolff, Michael Wolff, Nat Wolff
Genre: Family and Kids
Run time: 82 minutes
Theatrical release: January 26, 2007
DVD release: April 3, 2007
MPAA Rating: NR