California Dreaming
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California Dreaming
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that California Dreaming is a musical from producer Simon Fuller (American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance) and Grammy Award-winning songwriter and producer Ryan Tedder. It centers on a small group of kids (including Liv Simone of Raven's Home and Max Finchman of Invasion) auditioning to attend an elite performing arts boarding school. The main characters are a supportive and talented bunch who each have to overcome some adversity to gain admittance. One obstacle is Mandy, a narcissistic social media star who hurls insults and reads someone's diary aloud to the other students. She is eventually silenced by a silly accident but no true consequences are ever shown for her behavior. Many of the students and school administrators, as well as a revered music producer, are people of color but there is also a very sterotypical portrayal of a kid from a rural background. There are some mildly suggestive dances and song lyrics, as well as one short kiss.
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What's the Story?
In CALIFORNIA DREAMING a group of talented young performers audition for an elite performing arts boarding school. Friendships are made along the way as everyone faces their own challenges to try and claim a coveted spot.
Is It Any Good?
The positive messages in this musical can't overcome its lack of catchy music or its dull plot twists. Despite the pedigree of its producers, California Dreaming just isn't all that entertaining. Parents will appreciate the lessons in adversity, as characters have to overcome such setbacks as stage fright and having goals that conflict with their parents' wishes. They'll also like how the teens support each other despite the limited numbers of spots for the school. Unfortunately, there's not a whole lot here for kids to love. The plot lines and dialogue are pretty basic, as are the songs and dancing. Add to that the lack of comedy and this special, which is actually a pilot episode of a TV series that was never greenlit, isn't worth your time.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about stereotypes in TV and movies. Do you think it's fair that Ben is portrayed as not knowing anything about music just because he lives on a farm?
How does each kid demonstrate perserverance?
Mandy has a lot of social media followers but she doesn't have any humility. What is humility and why is it valuable?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: December 16, 2021
- Cast: Angelina Green, Liv Simone, Max Fincham
- Director: Matt Stawski
- Studio: Nickelodeon
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Arts and Dance, Music and Sing-Along
- Character Strengths: Perseverance
- Run time: 45 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: February 28, 2022
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