Degrassi Goes Hollywood

Movie review by Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media
Degrassi Goes Hollywood Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 14+

Brush with fame teaches teens lessons in TV movie.

NR 2010 93 minutes
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Parents say

age 14+

Based on 2 reviews

Kids say

age 12+

Based on 12 reviews

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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 this TV movie set in Hollywood offers less of the frank content that teens -- and their parents -- have come to expect from the series it's based on, Degrassi: The Next Generation. Still, you can expect some kissing and making out, occasional strong language, and intermittent alcohol use -- including one scene in which it plays a role in a young woman's apparent (but unsuccessful) suicide attempt. Some of the movie's story details are a bit of a stretch (unaccompanied teens head across country lines in a borrowed school bus, for instance), but most of the weightier stuff is handled respectfully. Many characters face personal dilemmas (a father's mental illness and an identity crisis, for example), and they learn difficult lessons in friendship and self-reliance.

Community Reviews

killerqueen
killerqueen Adult
August 20, 2009
age 13+

decent

I supose it was good as far as little kid stories go but on a regular movie standard I can definitely see why it was a made for tv movie rather than actually hitting the big screen...the television show at times can be unrealistic but traditionally hits on real issues...like thats where its drama comes from, real issues but put in a tv series..the movie was just pure fluff on a ridiculous level. I supose it might offer mild thrills but overall the premise is just extremely ridiculous. The show is/was always about 1000% better than the movie

This title has:

Too much consumerism
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
Dru
Dru Adult
August 15, 2009
age 14+
I use to watch the Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi episodes from the 80's that I would rent from the library. Fantastic show with realistic plots. I was estatic when I found out about a next generation. The first episodes were good then it got to be just too unrealstic and then just plain stupid. When I say unrealstic I mean the school shootings and Jay and Silent Bob coming to the school. Now I know school shootings is a real life thing that goes on but how many high schools have students that go through a school shooting then have a visit by two celebs who film a movie at the school namely, Jay and Silent Bob Go Canadian Eh? I do not recall Columbine having a movie filmed there by two mainstream actors. Then in Degrassi Goes Hollwood Paige somehow finds a job being a maid at a famous person's house while another character, Manny ends up being in the next High School Musical esque movie, this would be her second time being in a movie after the Jay and Silent Bob one, oh and lets not forget she was a victim of a school shooting. And the characters are constantly running into famous people from Perez Hilton to Kelly Clarkson to Pete Wintz and they always befriend the students and become their best buddies. I do not know of any high school with students these events happend to because simply they do not atleast not in one school. Stupid beyond words, changing the channel to watch Skins. A show like Degrassi which is British and more better with writers who do not reinforce bad and unrealstic things on teenagers. In 2004, 10 elementary students at a Québécois school mutilated themselves by using compasses to cut their arms after watching an episode of Degrassi: The Next Generation in which a character mutilated her own body, Laura Czekaj said in her article for Canoe online. Their goal should be to help teens like the early Degrassi from the 80's did but oh no not the Next Generation.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In DEGRASSI GOES HOLLYWOOD, an open casting call for a new movie draws old friends and rivals to Tinseltown for adventure -- and a hint of mayhem. Manny Santos (Cassie Steele) is hand-picked to be the film's leading lady, but she blows the audition -- so the spotlight falls on former Degrassi High rival Paige Michalchuck (Lauren Collins). But Paige's newfound fame soon consumes her, and not even longtime friends Marco (Adamo Ruggiero) and Ellie (Stacey Farber) can bring her back down to earth. Meanwhile, Manny wants to reclaim the role she forfeited to Paige, and Ellie is faced with some tough choices when a chance encounter with her old flame, Craig (Jake Epstein), brings unexpected emotions to the surface.

Is It Any Good?

For the most part, the messages the movie sends to teens are as solid as those they've been getting from the series, so there's little reason to worry about letting existing fans tune in. Since it first won over fans in the ‘80s, the Degrassi franchise has been applauded for tackling serious teen issues in a responsible, realistic way. This made-for-TV movie based on Degrassi: The Next Generation certainly doesn't push any envelopes with its fairly frivolous content, but it does touch on familiar themes like friendship, self-respect, and love, and it hints at more serious ones like mental illness and alcoholism.

That said, viewers new to the world of Degrassi will find themselves playing catch-up on the characters' intricate relationships and likely won't enjoy the movie as much as established fans. And it really is best for teens and up thanks to weighty topics like war (a character's soldier father returns from the front suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder) and a character's apparent suicide attempt. Expect some sporadic strong language and lots of kissing, all of which occurs without any adult supervision.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about some of the issues the movie raises, including teen dating and sex, coping with family issues, friendship, and alcohol use. Do you think the movie paints an accurate picture of teen life? How would you help a friend who was struggling with these or other issues?

  • Teens: What celebrities do you admire most? What do you like about them? What messages does it send to young fans when a star does something wrong?

  • What makes something "good" entertainment? Teens: Did you like this movie? How did it compare to the Degrassi series? Do you think the media has a responsibility to produce positive TV shows and movies? Why or why not?

Movie Details

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