Common Sense Media Review
By Tom Cassidy
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Gentle alien comedy deals with challenges of a new family.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Stepsister from Planet Weird
What's the Story?
In STEPSISTER FROM PLANET WEIRD, teenager Megan (Courtnee Draper) is coming to terms with her parents divorce. But when her mom gets engaged to an alien called Cosmo (Lance Guest) Megan's life is disrupted further by Cosmo's daughter Ariel (Tamara Hope). With both girls unhappy about their parent's new relationship, they decide to do their best to break them up.
Is It Any Good?
A delight from start to finish, this is a smart and consistently funny movie that is completely warmhearted. YA author Francess Lantz's novel is adapted for the screen by Chris Matheson, who wrote tween time-travel comedy Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. Like the Bill & Ted movies, Stepsister from Planet Weird has real affection for its teenage characters and even those shown in a negative light at the start are given their chance to shine. The relationships in the movie are all excellent, too. Megan and her mother, Kathy (Khrystyne Haje) are natural together and the oddball alien pair Cosmo Cola and Ariel from Planet Zircalon are hilarious.
It's also a fiercely humanistic movie, with aliens learning to love the ways of humans, and free will being championed. The movie's most effective element is how it shows understanding and empathy, with each girl's diary being read in voiceover, letting us see key scenes from two completely different perspectives. Smart, very funny, and surprising, Stepsister from Planet Weird is stellar family fun that unfortunately has flown under most people's radar.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the role of families in Stepsister from Planet Weird. How does the family dynamic change throughout the movie? How does divorce and/or the death of a parent impact a family?
Talk about how empathy is depicted in the movie. How did hearing Megan and Ariel sharing their thoughts about the same situations and people change our views on them? Why is empathy such an important character strength to have? How can I use media to teach my kid empathy?
Megan and Ariel don't always share their true feelings openly but write them down in their diaries. What might be the benefits of keeping a diary? Why is it important to communicate your feelings? How can I use media to help my kid's communication skills?
Cosmo was a freedom fighter on his home planet, fighting against the emperor who said change is bad. Do you think one person should make all the rules or is democracy and free will a better option?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : June 17, 2000
- Cast : Courtnee Draper , Tamara Hope , Lance Guest
- Director : Steve Boyum
- Studio : Disney Channel Original Movies
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Book Characters , Family Stories ( Siblings )
- Character Strengths : Communication , Empathy , Teamwork
- Run time : 85 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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