Common Sense Media Review
By Grace Montgomery
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
British dance flick is clichéd but clean and fun.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
All Stars
What's the Story?
Jaden (Akai Osei-Mansfield) is banned from dancing by his parents so he can spend more time studying to get into a prestigious private school. Ethan (Theo Stevenson) is desperate to impress new girl Lucy and unintentionally challenges her boyfriend to a dance-off, even though he can't dance. Meanwhile, the Garage, the town's community center, is on the verge of demolition unless the owner, Gina (Ashley Jensen), can come up with the funds to save it. Jaden and Ethan band together with a team of other misfits to form the All Stars and put together a talent show in an attempt to save the community center, win the girl, and come up with some killer dance routines.
Is It Any Good?
The plot is predictable and the characters are clichéd, but somehow ALL STARS manages to be a fun and entertaining film that's full of heart. A lot of it is owed to the impressive dance numbers that range from surreal dance sequences inspired by Space Invaders to ballroom dance numbers and Bollywood movies. The music also is catchy, full of popular tunes and cool DJ mixes. And, although the characters are definitely stereotypes, they're all genuinely likable and funny.
Parents will like the positive messages about supporting your community, doing what you love, and not judging others. And though older tweens and teens may find the plot and characters a little cheesy, they'll probably still enjoy the fun dance sequences, making this a family film that's worth watching.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about places such as community and teen centers. Do you think they're an important and necessary part of the community? Why, or why not?
Do you think the characters are realistic portrayals of teens? Why, or why not?
Do you think this movie is still enjoyable if you don't like dancing? What else makes it a good movie?
Movie Details
- In theaters : May 3, 2013
- On DVD or streaming : March 11, 2014
- Cast : Akai Osei-Mansfield , Theo Stevenson , Ashley Jensen
- Director : Ben Gregor
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Vertigo Films
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Run time : 106 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : Rated PG for mild language and a brief scuffle.
- Last updated : March 13, 2020
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
Suggest an Update
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