Parents' Guide to

Girls Rock!

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Girl-power docu has a strong positive message.

Movie PG 2008 90 minutes
Girls 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 9+

Based on 3 parent reviews

RavenW
RavenW Adult
November 2, 2020
age 10+

Inspiring for young rockers

Great documentary for inspiring rockers. Girls get together for a kind of rock camp where they form bands and learn how to work together to write a song, and perform at a concert at the end. There's some darkness in discussions of bullying, obsessions on body image, drug use for weight loss, 'druggy' parents, foster care etc. But overall positive messages about collaboration, believing in yourself and being yourself. It's very female empowering, so boys may feel left out?

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
DvdT
DvdT Adult
November 12, 2018
age 6+

Inspiring, even for a dad!

I love how this funny and inspiring film and the band camp project demonstrate that girls can work together (as a band) happily, and without any "mean girl" attitude, and express themselves honestly, even when that's loud or ugly. Not sure how another review ("just horrid!") can be helpful to anyone without offering any reasons for that judgment. The grade for "consumerism" is way off the mark. They're not selling, cobranding, syndicating or merchandising anything. So the brand of a guitar is on the screen. I don't believe there was any deal with a guitar company.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Forget archery and macrame: At Rock 'n' Roll Camp, girls wail on guitars, scream song lyrics into mics, and find a way to express themselves (musically and otherwise) in just one week. It's a confidence-building exercise and a potent one at that. Tracking a handful of campers -- including Laura, a Korean girl with a penchant for death metal who craves connection, and Misty, a veteran of foster care and gang life -- GIRLS ROCK! explores the transformative power of making music. And not just any kind of music, but genres like rock and metal that are usually identified with the opposite sex.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3):
Kids say (2):

Empowering, insightful, and, at times, deeply heart wrenching, this documentary should be seen by every girl who's ever doubted her capabilities or yearned to feel like she belongs. (And who hasn't?) It's dispiriting but also illuminating to watch the campers navigate social circles with the bravado that so many girls put on to mask a fear of rejection. Interspersed with camp footage are statistics that appall and educate; in music videos, for instance, only 22 percent of performers are women, and they're five times more likely than men to be dressed (or, rather, barely dressed) in revealing clothing.

Girls Rock! clearly has a message. And it's a good one, but perhaps viewers don't need to be clocked in the head with it. The heavy-handed feeling detracts from the overall enjoyment -- filmmakers Arne Johnson and Shane King would have benefited from the light-but-deft touch used by the makers of Mad Hot Ballroom. Nevertheless, we'll take this over standard superficial piffle anytime. When the girls take to the stage in the end, we're ready to rock.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the campers' awkwardness and confusion. What does the camp -- and, by extension, music -- do for them? What about music allows the girls freedom of expression? Do any of them change for the better for having participated? If so, how? Can you think of other ways in which media can help kids (or people in general) feel better about themselves?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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