School Gyrls (Nickelodeon)

SCHOOL GYRLS is a musical comedy that centers on the eponymous, real-life teen pop group consisting of Mandy Moseley, Jacqueline (Jacque) Ray Pyles, and Monica Parales (a.k.a. Mo Money). The trio star as newcomers to an exclusive private high school where they’re thrown together as roommates and discover a common passion for music and dance. With a penchant for trouble and a deep rivalry with the school’s resident popularity snob, Mandy, Jacque, and Monica enter a teen competition in an effort to dance their way to respect from their peers.

First, the good news. To call this trio of starlets "talented" is to commit a serious understatement. Their individual talents in song and dance complement each other so well that it’s difficult to not like them, and tweens are sure to be drawn to the energy and excitement they display in their musical numbers.

That said, there are a lots of reasons for parents to take issue with the messages School Gyrls offers tweens, and girls especially. In its brief 60-minute format, the movie shows examples of bullying (including one instance of cyberbullying), peer pressure, and theft, none of which has real-world consequences. Stereotyping is also a big concern here, and it goes beyond the typical casting of high school students as jocks or cool kids, incorporating cultural stereotypes as well. Weak attempts to inject cookie-cutter values like honesty and self-esteem can’t redeem the movie’s pitfalls, so truly positive content is at a minimum in this music-driven movie.