 | 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. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Read It and Weep
- Review Date: January 10, 2007
- NR
- Genre: Comedy
- 2006
Common Sense Media says
Diary mix-up brings girl overnight stardom.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this made-for-TV movie portrays stereotypical high-school students, grouping them into neat little cliques including "populars" and "jocks." The only ones who escape shallowness are Jamie and her best friends. Jamie's character is strengthened by her struggles with the pressures of success; the self-awareness and confidence she gains by listening to her conscience is a worthwhile lesson for tweens and teens. Themes of friendship and loyalty are emphasized throughout the movie.
What's the story?
Freshman Jamie Bartlett (Kay Panabaker) is frustrated with high-school life. She wonders what it would be like to be popular, where Marco the hunk (Chad Broskey) might notice her and snooty Sawyer (Allison Scagliotti) would remember her name. To escape the pressures of school, Jamie retreats to her journal, weaving a tale about teen heroine Isabella ("Is"), who's beautiful, self-assured, and popular and can effortlessly zap any pesky person out of her way. When she accidentally turns in her journal as a homework project, Jamie wins a writing contest and finds her books on shelves nationwide. Suddenly she's caught up in the whirlwind of photo shoots and guest appearances and starts to lose touch with her friends and herself. Meanwhile, Is (played by Kay's big sister, Danielle Panabaker) becomes a real presence for Jamie, though no one else can see her. As Jamie's stardom grows, her literary alter ego pops in and out of her life to influence every move she makes. Jamie eventually becomes disenchanted with her new life and in the end must decide whether popularity is worth sacrificing self-respect and true friendship.
Is it any good?
READ IT AND WEEP is Disney TV at its best, using strong characters, great casting (the Panabaker sisters are fantastic), and catchy tunes to entertain and emphasize morals. Tweens will enjoy the comedic spin on Jamie's school woes, and parents will like the messages about friendship and self-confidence.
The one dull spot is the character of Jamie's mom, Peggy (Connie Young), who pushes her daughter into promotional situations that seem to make Jamie uncomfortable. Disney did a disservice to this lone adult female role model, portraying her as even more starstruck than her daughter.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about peer pressure and popularity. How do your friends' or classmates' opinions affect your own? Who defines what's cool? Why is it hard to be the only one to feel a certain way? How have you stood up to the influence of others? Families also can talk about being a good friend. How might you react to a friend's sudden popularity?
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AGE
Tween girls'll love it.
This is the classic, modern Disney movie about a teen girl who's an outcast besides her other outcast friends, suddenly becomes popular, and starts going against her friends and moral to hang out with the popular crowd. Something shocking happens, and she realizes that her true friends are the ones she's been with the whole time, and that the cute shy guy ACTUALLY LIKES HER!! Not the most original plot, but a cool story behind it, and something to do besides sitting there for 1.5 hours. Decent, and a good movie to watch with tweens, especially girls.
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AGE
Teaches some very good lessons in a positive way
Although the main character behaves badly at some points in the movie, she eventually not only pays with tough consequences (all her friends turn away from her) she does learn the lesson that she badly needs to learn. It's a good movie to use to talk over issues like trying to be part of the "popular" group and how much to sacrifice your old friends to make new ones. The alter ego thing is a little strange, but it works out ok.
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AGE
Typical Disney lessons, but a nice movie
This movie may be like a 3.5 because I liked it better than other DCOMS, but it's still typical. I like it how Jamie interacts with her alter-ego, Is. This is a better-the-average Disney movie. Good lessons, but there is a problem with role models. Although Jamie learns that popularity isn't worth losing good friends, her mom was really excited about her being famous (like CSM said) even though Jamie didn't really like it at first.
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AGE
Disliked the film, but ok for kids
I found this film very irritating with the character the lead girl has created in her head. In some scenes she argues with the girl she has created in her mind in public and in her bedroom, which could be seen as a mental issue, you may want to discuss. I don't think this film has any good morals. The lead girl lets fame get to her head and she suddenly has interest in her male friend after she finds out he wrote the poems in class, not her crush. Which I personally thought was terrible. She would not like him otherwise. Her mum also seems to not care at all
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Kid, 11 years old
July 27, 2011
AGE
Funny
there are alot of kissing and talking about how they love each other and jamie's imaginary friend thinks money is more important than friends and stuff sometimes Jamie thinks so too but in the end she figures out she's wrong good movie and really funny when shes talking to her imaginary friend "IS"
propably 9+ unless your children don't mind the kissing then it's like 6+ so pause
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| Studio: | Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment |
| Director: | Paul Hoen |
| Cast: | Danielle Panabaker, Jason Dolley, Kay Panabaker |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 85 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | July 23, 2006 |
| DVD release date: | January 16, 2007 |
| MPAA rating: | NR |
| MPAA explanation: | not rated |
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