Parents' Guide to

Taking 5

By Joly Herman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Like, this silly movie's for the slumber party set only.

Movie PG 2007 87 minutes
Taking 5 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all
age 12+

Based on 1 parent review

cosmicore
cosmicore Adult
April 23, 2012
age 12+

Okay...Good but not Great.

I think this movie is ehh. Better than High School Musical. But not by much. That being said, the place this movie lacks in is script. Comes off as cheesy. Also, there is a lot of words that are inappropriate for younger ears. I like the movie but it's in the bottom 50% for me.

This title has:

Too much swearing
Too much consumerism
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Devon (Alona Tal) and Gabby (Daniella Monet) are, like the biggest fans of boy band 5 Leo Rise. So enamored are they that when they meet the band in person their world is rocked by the guys' indifference to their pleas to help them be popular. Dejected and angry, the two friends decide to kidnap the boy band and hold them hostage in Devon's basement. The girls become friendly with the guys in the band, kissing ensues, and the band plays at the school as a favor to their kidnappers.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (1):

Tween movies can be so much better than this sorry attempt. Sure it has some eye candy -- like cute girls who drool over their favorite boy band and the handsome boy band playing as a favor at a high school. The members of Click Five play the pop band 5 Leo Rise, and as novice actors, they seem to waver between being jaded and being playful. And no wonder: The guys are bombarded with screaming fans whose open mouths and smeary mascara become standard fare.

There are no deep moments here or surprises -- just some stagy scenes where the actors try to pull off the lukewarm script. Kind of like a sugar high that drops as quickly as it came on.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about obsessing over famous people -- when is it overkill? We're constantly bombarded with photos and information about famous people and their lives. What makes us want to climb into their world? How do Gabby and Devon feel when the guys in the band are jerks? Is their response appropriate? Is it appropriate to go ape over people who are ultimately strangers?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate