Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Young Sherlock is refreshing model for tweens.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
What's the Story?
It's the season of spooks in Seneca Falls, and young gumshoe Roxy Hunter (Aria Wallace) has stumbled onto yet another mystery in need of her expertise. After a rocky start, Roxy and her new classmate, Stefan (Connor Price), have become fast friends, but her detective senses tell her that he's hiding something about his family. When she learns they hail from Transylvania, the puzzle pieces fall into place, and she sets out to prove they're vampires ... but it turns out the truth is even more unnerving. In true Roxy style -- and with the help of her mom (Robin Brule) and her friends -- she sets out to unmask the villain and help Stefan live happily ever after.
Is It Any Good?
Roxy fans have reason to cheer this fourth installment in the series of movies based on books by Tracey West. ROXY HUNTER AND THE HORRIFIC HALLOWEEN proves that this spirited young detective just gets better with age. While she's still guilty of breaking the rules when she feels it's justified and she often lets her sense of drama steer her actions, Roxy does show a willingness to take responsibility for her actions, and she's devoted to righting injustice. Parents may take issue with the fact that she still takes serious matters into her own hands too readily, but her tween fans probably won't confuse her obviously fictitious lifestyle with their own.
Ultimately Roxy offers tween girls a role model whose minor character flaws are overshadowed by her self-confidence, resourcefulness, and devotion to a good cause. She's unaffected by boys, unfazed by bullies, and ever ready to stand up to injustice. Parents will also like the fact that there's nothing commercial about the character or the movies -- a refreshing commodity among the heavily marketed tween set.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the media portrays tweens. Do you find Roxy's character believable? Why or why not? Can you relate to her lifestyle and family circumstances? How do you feel about her willingness to take matters into her own hands to solve a mystery? Do any of her actions seem realistic? How does her character compare to other tweens you've seen on TV?
TV Details
- Premiere date : October 31, 2008
- Cast : Aria Wallace , Demetrius Joyette , Robin Brule
- Network : The N
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 6, 2020
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