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Parents' Guide to

Bratz: Girlz Really Rock

By Nancy Davis Kho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Sexualized kids' characters meet Camp Rock.

Movie NR 2008 82 minutes
Bratz: Girlz Really Rock Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 6+

Based on 9 parent reviews

Lebron45James6
Lebron45James6 Adult
October 16, 2022
age 5+

Total Waste of Time and Money

The very idea of making a movie about math will student want to get through the lesson as fast as possible, and won’t allow them to process it. My child’s teacher put it on and he didn’t take in any of the math. Just don’t even bother with this if you want to teach kids something.
Marleygentry123
Marleygentry123 Adult
October 29, 2018
age 8+

Relax, Parents.

I was a young, impressionable girl when I first watched this movie (over and over, I may add), and now I’m an almost 16 year old teenager, and believe me, it was not all everyone says it was. There are quite literally no questionable things in it. I mean, okay, every single movie creator in any franchise history tries to sneak in some references that parents don’t like. But look around ?? Stop picking on the bratz for it. Every movie does it. Barbie. Harry Potter. Even Nick Jr. shows. Bratz is a humorous, fun-loving series that shows the struggles of friendship but how it ultimately perseveres. The girls, honestly, are accurately depicted. Parents need to take a moment to check the girls at their local high school, and see that the bratz are not inaccurate in the slightest, from their dress, to their behavior, hair, anything. So parents, just relax. It will not corrupt your kids.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 9 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In BRATZ: GIRLS REALLY ROCK, the creators seem to have realized that it's hard to sustain a plot that is entirely dependent on shopping, makeup, and hairstyles, and they've moved the action to a performing arts summer camp where the friends must compete. However rather than coming up with a new plotline they've lifted entire scenes from bigger hits like High School Musical 2 (clock ticking towards the start of summer vacation) and Camp Rock (the final talent showdown). Yasmin, Sasha, Cloe, and Jade must themselves learn the lesson that they initially teach the rest of the campers: that even with a coveted movie role at stake, it's more important to have fun than to win.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (9 ):
Kids say (7 ):

The original music enhances the plot and keeps the story moving along. The teamwork lesson is always a good one to reinforce with kids, although at Camp Starshine it takes a bittersweet twist since the "happy ending" of performing as a group means each Bratz gives up the chance to show off a skill at which they are truly talented. The evil ballet choreographer Madame Demidov is given a fascinating solo with echoes of communist Russia and Red Army domination; unexpected, to say the least, in a Bratz setting.

But for all its positive themes, Girlz Really Rock presents disturbing and unattainable physical images of its young girl characters: piles of makeup, tiny waists, big hips and chests, all swathed in tiny mini skirts and belly-baring tops. And the goal towards which all the campers are fighting -- to star in a movie based on the winner's actual life -- is a sad commentary on the current American obsession with both reality television and celebrity worship, and one that doesn't have a place in tween media.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the camp the Bratz are attending. Why do you think the few adults in the story are depicted as silly or mean? Have you ever had to make choices between practicing a skill and having fun? How do you decide when you're doing too much of one or the other?

Movie Details

  • In theaters: September 2, 2008
  • On DVD or streaming: September 2, 2008
  • Director: Mucci Fassett
  • Studio: Lionsgate
  • Genre: Family and Kids
  • Run time: 82 minutes
  • MPAA rating: NR
  • MPAA explanation: Not Rated
  • Last updated: February 25, 2022

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