Review of Monte Carlo (2011) by Johnny T — 03 Dec 2012

The scenery is pretty, the actresses work hard and it all goes by fairly quickly, if unmemorably. Even as she is the center of attention here in a double role, the jury is still out on Gomez's bigscreen potential; she's not very appealing or magnetic here, nor does she display any particular comic gifts for this sort of broad fare. After Selena Gomez's auspicious big-screen debut in Ramona and Beezus, Monte Carlo feels like two steps back for the Wizards of Waverly Place star. Despite the recent obsession with the new royal, Kate, Monte Carlo seems tonally off the mark considering the naughty female-powered movies that have defined the summer so far, like Bridesmaids and Bad Teacher - I mean, even the silly tween-centric Judy Moody movie has more edge. Director Thomas Bezucha lingers too long on side plots and doesn't give the film emotional resonance. This script, this leaden direction ensures that even as the teen wish-fulfillment fantasy, complete with young women playing dress-up, Monte Carlo fails.

VERDICT: "Not So Hot" - [Negative Reaction] These films are truly terrible films. They are not the worst things ever made, but they are definitely awful and should not be seen by anyone. (Films that are rated 1.5 or 2 stars).