Common Sense Media Review
By Renee Schonfeld
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Some stereotypical "girl" behavior, but gentle lessons, too.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 3+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Strawberry Shortcake: The Glimmerberry Ball Movie
What's the Story?
The GLIMMERBERRY BALL MOVIE is episodic and consists of three separate stories, all dealing with Berry Bitty City's preparations for an annual event that celebrates the coming of winter. In the first story, each girl must choose a First Frost gift for one secret friend. There's lots to discover about giving and receiving, and even "re-gifting." The middle story shows the girls in a competition. Each must design and carve a frozen glimmerberry for the upcoming festivities. When all the designs turn out to look very much alike, the girls learn about the power of suggestion and how easy it is to jump to the wrong conclusions. Finally, everyone plans for the Glimmerberry Ball, but unbeknownst to them the ballroom they choose is already "occupied" by some surprising winter tenants.
Is It Any Good?
The updated Strawberry Shortcake clan lives in a bright, beautiful, idealized environment. The problems are easy to solve; no one stays mad for very long; and Strawberry Shortcake is the always-resourceful, always-generous leader. The girls learn about the value of teamwork, friendship, and helpfulness. The film is pretty to look at, optimistic in spirit, yet doesn't always avoid old-fashioned stereotyping. The girls chatter and giggle a lot, love dressing up, having parties, and looking great. It's a narrow view, but given the shortage of female-oriented children's TV and direct-to-video movies, it's fun for very young girls.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about hibernation. What other animals hibernate in the winter? How do they prepare for the long nap?
When the girls saw their "ballroom" from the chipmunks' point of view, they learned an important lesson. Can you think of a time when you learned a lesson by looking at a problem from someone else's perspective?
What are some of the things you like best about Strawberry Shortcake and her friends? Do you think the bright colors and beautiful settings add to your enjoyment of the stories?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : August 31, 2010
- Director : Bob Hathcock
- Studio : Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Friendship
- Run time : 64 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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