Common Sense Media Review
By Grace Montgomery
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Religious camp comedy is hokey but heartfelt and fun.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
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Where to Watch
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Once I Was a Beehive
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 6 parent reviews
Based on 10 kid reviews
Kids say this movie provides a refreshing and positive representation of Latter-Day Saints, featuring relatable scenarios interwoven with humor and heartfelt moments. While it captures the essence of religious camps and portrays the challenges of growing up, it balances comedy and significant themes, making it enjoyable for viewers of all ages.
- positive representation
- heartfelt moments
- family-friendly
- humor and comedy
- relatable scenarios
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In ONCE I WAS A BEEHIVE, a year after Lane's (Paris Warner) father dies of cancer, her mother remarries a Mormon man and leaves Lane with her new step-aunt and step-cousin while she goes on a three-week honeymoon with her new husband. Charmed by her quirky cousin Phoebe (Mila Smith), who suffers from anxiety, Lane finds herself pressured to attend a Mormon girls' camp with her. When Lane arrives, she's convinced she'll have to suffer through a boring week with uptight girls who fulfill all the stereotypes she's heard about Mormons, but as the week progresses, she finds out she has a lot to learn about faith, family, and acceptance.
Is It Any Good?
It has an abundance of corny religious camp songs and a predictable plot, but this heartfelt comedy manages to be charming with a self-deprecating tone that the heavy-handed messages go down. The main actresses (Paris Warner and Mila Smith) are believable and compelling, even when the dialogue is somewhat cloying. And while the plot isn't new, the film's attempt to show a new side to a much-maligned group is admirable and sometimes quite funny.
While Once I Was a Beehive probably will mostly appeal to a religious (especially Mormon) audience, it has strong messages about tolerance that will appeal to most parents. And families looking for a faith-based movie for tweens will find a lot to like.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about empathy in Once I Was a Beehive. How does Lane show empathy for Phoebe? How does she use her experience with her father's death to relate to Phoebe's experiences?
Many of the characters show compassion for one another in various ways. How does Nedra show compassion for Lane? How does Lane show compassion for Phoebe? What does Lane teach Brie about compassion?
How do the campers show teamwork? What does Brie learn about leadership and being a good leader to her fellow campers?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : August 14, 2015
- Cast : Paris Warner , Hailey Smith , Lisa Clark
- Director : Maclain Nelson
- Studio : Main Dog Productions
- Genre : Drama
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Empathy , Teamwork
- Run time : 119 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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