
Family movie night? There's an app for that
Download our new mobile app on iOS and Android.
16-Love
By Renee Schonfeld,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Wholesome, lightweight teen tale features tennis, romance.

A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
16-Love
Community Reviews
Based on 1 parent review
Cute and uplifting
What's the Story?
In 16-LOVE, Ally Mash (Lindsey Shaw) is near the height of a sparkling career as junior tennis tournament player in Southern California. Coached hard by her demanding dad (Keith Coulouris), Ally will tell you that "tennis is her life." She's willing to forego friends, parties, all the other stuff that goes along with being a high school student. So she's devastated when she injures her ankle in a prep match against an arrogant Russian girl just weeks before the Junior Open tournament. Confined to an all-consuming regimen designed by her dad (yoga, strength training, massage, therapy), Ally is reluctant at first to return the attentions of an adorable boy (Chandler Massey) who just happens to play tennis, too. Soon, however, though she works hard to prepare for the Junior Open, Ally begins to see the value of balance, fun, and just being a teen.
Is It Any Good?
Though well-intentioned, with clearly stated messages and values, 16-Love opts for one-dimensional characters and teen stereotypes instead of authentic, fully formed people.
The outcomes are never in doubt; some of the acting is amateurish; and it often feels like an extended commercial for Dunlop and other products associated with athletics. Still, Lindsey Shaw and Chandler Massey, are easy to root for; their performances are heartfelt and natural. There's plenty of innocent romance and just enough tennis to hold the audience's interest and keep the story moving.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can discuss all the companies that advertised their products during this movie. How do the filmmakers benefit from showing those products? What do the companies hope the audiences will take away from this kind of exposure?
Why do you like watching movies about sports? Can you think of a sports movie you liked in which the team or player did not win "the big game" or match or tournament? Was that story still enjoyable? Why, and what did you learn from it?
What does it mean to be a "good sport"? How does this movie show both good and bad sportsmanship?
Movie Details
- In theaters: January 20, 2012
- On DVD or streaming: January 14, 2013
- Cast: Chandler Massey , Keith Coulouris , Lindsey Shaw
- Director: Adam Lipsius
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: Uptown 6 Productions
- Genre: Romance
- Topics: Sports and Martial Arts , Friendship
- Run time: 88 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- MPAA explanation: mild thematic elements and brief innuendo
- Last updated: October 14, 2023
Inclusion information powered by
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Movies for Girls Who Love Sports
Great Sports Movies
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate