Parents' Guide to

Mr. Troop Mom

By Nancy Davis Kho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Made-for-Nickelodeon movie is so-so but fun for tweens.

Movie G 2009 84 minutes
Mr. Troop Mom Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

age 10+

Based on 3 parent reviews

age 12+

Mean girls

I'm watching this movie with three girls, ages 9, 8 and 6. They like it fine enough but I'm distressed by all the mean girl behavior, and we're only about halfway through. There are the mean mean girls, but also the good girls are mean back, hurling insults and demeaning comments. I don't think this is a good movie for girls to see.
age 8+

^.^V

very good movie for the whole family, great moral lesson and very hilarious

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3):
Kids say (8):

Mr. Troop Mom won't win awards for breaking new ground in plot surprises. There's a rebellious daughter, a clique of "mean girls," an over-the-top drill sergeant of a camp director, and a make-or-break competition that requires the girls to overcome their differences and work together. The Serrano family dynamics include a manipulative daughter, a wholly inattentive dad, and a babysitter (Elizabeth Thai) ready to amp up any conflict that arises, and it's all chalked up to the missing maternal influence.

But as family fare goes, this is a decent film, with its message of figuring out the right problems to solve and finding ways to be family. Lopez is good as the hapless dad, but his funniest moments come when he is allowed to riff, as he does on his supposed love of camping. For all her rebelliousness, Naomi is a decent kid who has surrounded herself with a supportive group of friends. And while Jane Lynch nearly pops a vein as Ms. Hulka, the militaristic camp director, there's no one else who could have played the role as memorably.

Movie Details

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