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Vamps
By Sandie Angulo Chen,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Vampire comedy has cute moments but lacks bite.
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What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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What's the Story?
Goody (Alicia Silverstone) is a vampire who was turned in the 19th century by Cisserus (Sigourney Weaver), a "maker" who also transformed Stacy (Krysten Ritter) in 1992. After two decades together, Goody and Stacy -- who only consume animal blood -- live in Manhattan, where they work and go out all night and sleep all day. Things change when Stacy meets Joey Van Helsing (Dan Stevens of Downton Abbey) and sparks fly, despite his father's (Wallace Shawn) status as a vampire hunter. Goody also bumps into her '60s love, former activist Danny (Richard Lewis). Soon Goody and Stacy end up wondering whether they'd be better off ridding themselves of their maker and becoming their "true age."
Is It Any Good?
Anyone who loved the immensely quotable, zeitgeist-capturing 1995 comedy Clueless will be excited to see Silverstone and director Amy Heckerling reteam. But the allure of the reunion wanes when it's obvious that while VAMPS might be cute and offer the occasional laugh, it's also amateurish and forgettable.
Despite the finely assembled cast, there's just not much to this comedy besides being a vehicle for nostalgia and reminding viewers how aging can be a bitter process. Heckerling does amusingly poke fun at the way everyone is so techno-dependent now (a lounge singer even checks her smartphone during her performance), but everything from the story to the special effects are thin and silly.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the popularity of vampire tales. How is Vamps different than others? Will it appeal to teens?
What does Goody observe about the differences between current times and years gone by? Why is she so critical about the ubiquity of phones, gadgets, and social media? Do you agree?
Movie Details
- In theaters: November 2, 2012
- On DVD or streaming: November 13, 2012
- Cast: Alicia Silverstone , Krysten Ritter , Sigourney Weaver
- Director: Amy Heckerling
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: Anchor Bay Entertainment
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Run time: 93 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: violent images, some drug material, sexual content and language
- Last updated: September 5, 2023
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