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Parents' Guide to

VeggieTales: Princess and the Pop Star

By Renee Schonfeld, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 4+

Religious identity-swapping tale has positive lessons.

Movie NR 2011 49 minutes
VeggieTales: Princess and the Pop Star Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 3+

Based on 1 parent review

JubileeJigsaw
JubileeJigsaw Adult
November 28, 2017
age 3+

Really good message!

Princess and the Pop Star reveals an excellent message of how God created you just the way you are. Your child will really appreciate that he or she doesn't have to wear the latest trends in clothing or worry about being good at extracurricular activities. They are wonderfully made in God's eyes! They'll also learn that God has a plan for them. "I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Psalm 139:14
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Princess Poppyseed (voiced by Keri Pisapia) isn't really a princess. She lives on a farm with her boisterous, busy family and wishes for quiet and privacy -- maybe the life of her idol, singing sensation Vanna Banana (Rebecca Walker). Vanna Banana is a superstar. Her life is filled with recording sessions, costume fittings, and fans who sell out every show. But she's lonely, and her days are spent without play or close friends. If only she could be an ordinary girl in a warm, loving family! When the two meet unexpectedly and discover that they look almost exactly alike, opportunity knocks. They switch places, and each finds out who she'd really like to be -- and who she's really meant to be.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (2 ):

Humor, catchy/clever music, a simple story, and likable characters, make this VeggieTale movie entertaining, engaging, and easy to understand. Its messages about "being yourself" and "appreciating what we have" are closely tied to religious teachings about God's love and plan for each person.

That said, the episode is a little less than even-handed in that Princess readily learns the value of her productive and close family life on the farm, while Vanna's solitary, glamour-rich life is never really seen as desirable. It's her mother who sees the light and promises to make changes on Vanna's behalf.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how kids (and grown-ups) fantasize about being someone else (a superhero, a movie star, a sports legend). How do movies, TV, and books let us experience other identities?

  • Which characters or real people that you've read about or seen would you most like to be? Why? What might those people find wonderful about your life?

  • In Vanna Banana's story, which character learned a lesson: Vanna or her mother? What lesson did she learn?

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.

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