Want more recommendations for your family?
Sign up for our weekly newsletter for entertainment inspiration
The American Mall
By Kari Croop,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Cute musical sells songs -- and merchandise.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
Inside THE AMERICAN MALL, an aspiring singer-songwriter named Ally (Nina Dobrev) finds herself falling for a cute custodian named Joey (Rob Mayes), a musically gifted guy who seems to "get" her in every sense of the word. But the mall owner's spoiled daughter, Madison (Autumn Reeser), has her eye on Joey, too -- with plans to use him as a prop to sell her new line of designer clothing. In the process of getting what she wants, Madison also tries to shut down the music store that's owned and operated by Ally's mother (Yassmin Alers), who was once a talented musician in her own right.
Is It Any Good?
This cute movie is the creative brainchild of the same team that dreamed up High School Musical, so it seems to follow that it will appeal to tweens and teens, especially those who love musicals. And as romantic leads, Dobrev and Mayes aren't just attractive but also likeable -- and they're talented, too. Either one of them could have a music career (and they probably will). Dobrov, especially, has a pitch-perfect pop voice that's reminiscent of Michelle Branch or Vanessa Carlton. (Mayes' pipes are a little more rock 'n' roll, in the vein of Adam Pascal of Rent.)
If you rolled your eyes at High School Musical for its cheesy lyrics, spontaneous dance numbers, and sugar-coated approach to high school romance, you'll have the same problems with American Mall. But while you're dissing it, be warned: You might just find yourself humming one of the movie's infectiously catchy songs.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether they think this musical will catch on like wildfire and spawn its own multimedia franchise, a la High School Musical. Does the movie offer an accurate portrayal of teens and twentysomethings? Why or why not? Do any aspects of the plot seem far-fetched? Parents can also test kids' media-savviness by asking them how many brand names they spotted over the course of the movie -- and which ones stuck out the most. Do you think there's a reason some were featured more prominently than others?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: August 12, 2008
- Cast: Autumn Reeser , Nina Dobrev , Rob Mayes
- Director: Shawn Ku
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: MTV Films
- Genre: Musical
- Run time: 100 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: February 25, 2022
Inclusion information powered by
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.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
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