Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Brush with fame teaches teens lessons in TV movie.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
Based on 12 kid reviews
Kids say the movie is generally seen as suitable for tweens and older, with many reviewers recommending it for ages 12 and up, while expressing that it contains some mild inappropriate content and serious themes. Fans appreciate the connection to the TV show and its positive messages despite noting it's primarily geared towards a teenage audience.
- age recommendation
- teen focus
- positive messages
- mild content
- unrealistic elements
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
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
- On DVD or streaming : March 2, 2010
- Cast : Cassie Steele , Lauren Collins , Stacey Farber
- Director : Stefan Brogren
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Asian Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Alliance Films
- Genre : Drama
- Run time : 93 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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