Parents' Guide to Monster High: Fright On!

At first glance, it's tempting to dismiss this movie as a Bratz-caliber B-lister based on the characters' resemblance to that first round of image-crazed girls. But you only need to scratch the surface to reveal a surprising amount of heart. They're not perfect, they can be petty, and they succumb to bickering with friends and siblings, but given enough time, they recognize when they're being manipulated by outside influences and have the strength to stand up against social pressure. Even the haughtiest among them makes amends for her mistakes and learns to appreciate the loyalty of each and every friend. Grade-schoolers will appreciate the movie's clever references to monster lore -- including Medusa's son, who wears sunglasses to keep from turning his classmates to stone, and Draculaura's vegan lifestyle that curbs bloodlust -- more than they will the positive messages, but it's a sure bet that they'll recognize them anyway.

It's unfortunate that these socially responsible themes are packaged in such questionable physical images, especially considering that the movie's bound to attract a host of girls too young to engage in the "older" monster dramas like Twilight. These impressionable viewers will get a skewed sense of beauty from the twiggy, coifed, high-heeled, made-up high-schoolers and their devilishly handsome and exceedingly mature male counterparts. The fact that it's a cartoon (especially one about monsters) makes it a little easier to pass it off as fantasy, but you've got to wonder what the designers have against realistic waistlines and proportional facial features. They're not as off-kilter as the Bratz girls because they've got more to offer than just their looks, but the subliminal messages are there nonetheless.