Parents' Guide to Zapped

Inspired by Leslie Margolis' book Boys Are Dogs, ZAPPED admirably encourages kids to consider the repercussions of making other people comply with your expectations. It also gives new meaning to the "there's an app for that" pitch. For Zoey, the good news is that she won't have to share living space with four guys who have no sense of boundaries or rub shoulders with smelly, disheveled classmates who make a game of farting at people. (Really. It happens more than once.) Sure, this has its perks, but, as Zoey eventually learns, there's a downside to wielding control over those around you.

Zapped is entertaining enough, particularly for the younger crowd who will be drawn to it because of Disney megastar Zendaya's presence, but its messages are somewhat mixed for this age group. Even when it's in jest, there's something worrisome about the kind of large-scale stereotyping the story does on the male species in general (with a notable exception in Zoey's genteel, cultured love interest, played by Spencer Boldman) and on their mindless susceptibility to the kind of control she wields. There's also Zoey's quest to unseat her social and dance team rival, Taylor (Emilia McCarthy), which leads her to make some poor choices that hurt people she cares about. But countering these are feel-good examples of the ties that bind blended families, the importance of respecting individuality, and the dangers of manipulating others to get what you want. Oh, and a requisite Zendaya dance break doesn't disappoint either.