Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Rapunzel-like Barbie tale stresses fashion and appearance.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Barbie the Pearl Princess
What's the Story?
BARBIE THE PEARL PRINCESS is sort of like Rapunzel-meets-Edward Scissorhands with dashes of The Lion King and The Little Mermaid. Lumina (Kelly Sheridan) is a solitary mermaid being raised by a doting older "aunt" who doesn't let her leave their secluded undersea home. Lumina dreams of being a princess and has a magical ability to control pearls. When Lumina's mysterious aunt is summoned by the evil General Kaligo to attend a royal ball in the big city, Lumina and her best friend Kuda (a pink seahorse) follow along. Once at court, Lumina is quickly hired as a stylist to young and beautiful mermaids. But, as it turns out, Lumina is more than a talented hairdresser: she could be the key to the kingdom's future.
Is It Any Good?
This will mostl likely please little girls who love Barbie. But while this Barbie release has elements of various tried-and-true themes -- the secret princess who has no idea about her royal origins, the magical mermaid with a fish best friend, the offbeat hairdresser everyone loves -- the story never really comes together and is less compelling, entertaining, or educational than comparable productions such as Barbie Mariposa & the Fairy Princess, Barbie: A Perfect Christmas, and Barbie in the Pink Shoes.
Kids (particularly girls) may enjoy the relationship between Lumina and her best pal, the seahorse Kuda, as well as the light romance in the final third of the movie. But overall Pearl Princess isn't one of the more memorable Barbie installments, despite all the similarities to Rapunzel and other movies. Still, if you have a Barbie fan in the family, they may be excited to meet yet another incarnation of the doll and getting a new tale.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why these Barbie movies are so popular. Do you have to be a fan of the dolls to enjoy the movies? Which of the Barbie movies do you prefer: the ones in which Barbie is in an established story or in which she's in an original story, such as this one?
Kids: Does seeing this movie make you more interested in buying the Pearl Princess-theme Barbies and accessories? Parents: How can you focus on the stories' positive messages without getting any merchandise?
A lot of the movie focuses on the mermaids and other creatures getting makeovers. What are some of the messages about beauty and gender that get communicated in Barbie movies and toys? Is this movie different in any way?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : March 11, 2014
- Cast : Kelly Sheridan , Katie Crown , Mark Oliver
- Director : Zeke Norton
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Universal Studios Home Entertainment
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic , Fairy Tales ) , Animals ( Ocean Creatures )
- Run time : 74 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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