Bienvenue à Monte Carlo

Monte Carlo is a charming movie for tweens and/or teens. Several other reviewers disliked the movie calling it predictable and boring but I have to vehemently disagree. If you are looking for a cute, adventurous movie with NO SWEARING, NO NUDITY, NO SEXUAL SCENES or INNUENDOS, NO SMOKING, and NO DRUGS then this is the movie for you (and us!)! This movie reminds me of some of the 1960's Disney movies that were plot-wise too old for little kids but still 'safe' for the not quite teenagers.

This is a classic movie about mistaken identity and learning to get along. The 3 main characters in the movies are all very different personalities but they grow and learn to accept each other by the end of the movie. They also have very different 'happy endings' but seeing how different they are, the characters should end happily-ever-after differently.

There are some funny moments, some thinking 'would I do that?' moments, and some 'good for her' moments. You genuinely like each of these characters (except the mean girl) by the end of the show whether you liked them at the beginning or not.

This movie is perfect for its target audience of tweens/early teens and I wish more movies like this were available with today's stars!

Monte Carlo is a sweet romantic comedy in the same vain as The Lizzie McGuire Movie, the story is about a small town gal from Texas, her best friend and her uptight sister who all travel to Paris for a week, only to get separated from their tour group, they take refuge in the nearest hotel and one of the gals is mistaken for a wealthy British heiress and that's when the story takes off. Cue lots of awkward situations and a cute love story and there you have it.

Selena Gomez is quite nice to watch, as is Miss Meester and Katie Cassidy, all three girls have their own storyline throughout the film and each get their chance to shine. Full props to Selena for being entirely convincing as a snooty British snob, she nailed it. The one thing I didn't get was everyone in the movie from Texas has a Texan accent except Selena, I don't know if this was a deliberate mistake or just plain laziness, but for me it was the only thing that bothered me.

The movie is quite girly, not that that's a bad thing, that's the target audience, but for me it was still easy to watch and enjoyable enough. Give it a go, its not a classic teen film but hey, it's nice enough for a movie night with the girls. :)

Grace (Selena Gomez) lives in Texas, works in a diner, and has just earned her high school diploma. Since receiving a snow globe of Paris when she was young, Grace has been saving money to go on a weeklong vacation to France. Now that graduation is over, she and her close friend, Emma (Katie Cassidy) have the tickets and plan to take off. But, wait. Grace's parents (Brett Cullen and Andie McDowell), newly married, decide that older stepsister, Meg (Leighton Meister) must go along to keep everyone safe. Neither Grace or Meg is happy with this arrangement but decide it will be preferable to no trip at all. Once in Paris, the tour and the hotel are far short of expectations for all of the girls, causing disappointment. But, the trio of gals has a chance eavesdrop with a young British aristocrat, Cordelia (also Selena Gomez) that changes their vacation. Grace discovers that Cordelia is breaking commitments she made for a fund raising in Monte Carlo and going undercover for a few days. Thus, an opportunity arises for Grace to step into Cordelia's shoes, for they resemble identical twins. Once landing in Monaco, the girls are treated like royalty, with fabulous hotel accommodations and a closet full of designer clothes. Holding her breath, Grace finds that no one suspects that she is an impostor, not even the handsome son of the charity's director. He serves as her guide and "date". Emma, too, finds herself the object of affection for the local guys, although she is practically engaged to her boyfriend, Owen, back in Texas. Finally, reserved Meg also comes out of her shell when she meets a dashing Australian tourist. Thus, for a few days, it is a slice of "royal heaven" for the vacationers. But, will the deception be discovered and what will be the consequences if it is? This is a lovely looking film with a beautiful, talented young star, Gomez. A natural performer with a sweet-and-saucy air, she makes the most of her duel roles. Cassidy, Meister, and all of the other cast members do nice work, too. Naturally, the costumes and sets are quite lovely. But, and its huge issue, the script doesn't contain nearly enough comedy or cleverness to sustain a complete film. The premise, yes, is good but the execution is lacking. Then, too, the direction doesn't help matters with its complete dirth of energy. Therefore, the film plods along and has some boring moments. Thankfully, the finale makes a splash but its almost too late. Girls, young and old, will like the film and patiently overlook the dull bits. But, any others forced to watch it will be scowling up a storm.

If you had asked me who was Selena Gomez a few months back, I would have just blinked at you. If not for attending Justin Bieber's 3D documentary film, being intrigued by his internet fueled meteoric success and inevitably feeding off the tabloids on his career, I would not have known who the lead actress was, but now I do. Based loosely on the novel Headhunters by Jules Bass, the release of Monte Carlo this week in the US and Singapore would probably be deemed suicidal, if not for its appeal to the intended demographic left out of the testosterone filled Transformers, and the more mature movie going audience who would likely flock to Larry Crowne starring Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts (opens in Singapore next week to avoid a three-way battle).

And appeal to that group it does, playing up to its favourite things that if I were a girl I would gobble this up hook, line and sinker. There's travelling to Europe, Paris no less, with a BFF, and a sister you'd love to hate in tow, meeting attractive and more importantly, single guys at every turn, travelling in luxury from being ferried in private jets and limousines, rubbing shoulders with royalty and the rich and famous, as well as having an arsenal of gorgeous outfits to get into topped off by million dollar jewellery, participating in exotic games and attending the coolest parties. Sounds like fun, doesn't it?

But that's about it, with the film very much set in territory already explored in countless of films dealing with coincidental, mistaken identity, where the Prince and the Pauper switch places – this one being one sided and without permission – for the pauper to experience the high life, leading onto moralistic questions such as whether one will be enticed by things superficial and materialistic, or will one return to one's humble roots with morals, principles and values intact. It's the same old usual themes about wanting to fulfill personal objectives and dreams, whatever they may be, whether done so through hard work, or just by meeting the right people.

Selena Gomez takes on two roles here, although her role as the mean British heiress Cordelia Winthrop Scott looks like she's suffering from a constant PMS. Her other main role is of course as Grace, the simple waitress from Texas who had graduated and is taking her graduating trip to Paris with best friend Emma (Katie Cassidy), only for her parents to get her half-sister Meg (Leighton Meester) to tag along despite their hating of each other's guts. So begins the journey of self-discovery for all – Grace to decide whether she should keep up with the charade she and her pals find themselves in at the risk of being a fraud to Theo (Pierre Boulanger) of the Hotel de Paris, Emma to try and figure out if the high life and potentially rich royal-family linked acquaintance can be anything more than friends as compared to her troubled boyfriend Owen (Cory Monteith), and Meg learning to becoming less uptight while getting swept off her feet by Aussie tourist Riley (Luke Bracey).

Yes, that's all the romance lined up, as they zip around the different places in luxurious Monte Carlo, having the second act centered around closure in and around a million dollar necklace meant for a charity auction. In some ways that was the best part of the film as finally there is a sense of purpose and urgency to try and resolve everything amicably and set their identities straight as their charade comes to the inevitable close, with well timed, expected comedy to pave the way to a finale that ends all too conveniently.

Naturally the landscapes make up the film with its far flung, beautiful locations that would just make you want to save up enough to jet set in the same fashion, trying very hard to make you forget the many plot conveniences and coincidences, for the very obviously predictable way this teeny bopper film is appealing to the teenage female population through the latest It girl making that transition from music to film. Strictly or the fans only.

14-year-old Raven Devanney thoroughly enjoyed Monte Carlo. Here's her review:

Monte Carlo is an awesome movie for girl's night. Selena Gomez, Katie Cassidy, and Leighton Meester's performances are absolutely fantastic! I really enjoy this movie; it is funny, romantic and extremely entertaining. One thing I find a bit disappointing is that the story line is pretty predictable; however it is made up for by the wonderful acting. The cinematography is excellent and vivid. It truly shows off the beauty of Italy and Monte Carlo. My favorite character is Grace played by Selena Gomez. Grace is so determined to have a great time in Italy and make sure her friends are having a blast. She stays cool and calm even when life takes an unexpected turn and I admire that about her. My favorite scene when Cordelia Winthrop Scott, Grace's look-alike, comes to the Hotel de Paris in Monte Carlo and Grace and her friends have to scramble around trying to make her hotel room look perfect again so they don't get caught. This scene is very funny and enjoyable. I recommend Monte Carlo for ages 10 and up because there aren't any sexual scenes or inappropriate language, but younger kids may not enjoy the story of young adults traveling to Italy. I give Monte Carlo 4 out of 5 stars because it's a great film for you and your friends! Video review here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJ-q6ZKY7zU