Review of Monte Carlo (2011) by Levi O — 06 Jul 2011

I must inform you: I do not dislike kids films. As a matter of fact, a favorite of mine is Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I always found it profoundly entertaining as a child, and even better as an adult. The director of the film, Mel Stuart, says he never intended to make a film for children, but it just ended out that way. The in-jokes, the almost unbelievability of the adults, and just about everything else. However today, films like these have been replaced by films that think kids will laugh and be entertained by, say, old women in motorized scooters being pushed down escalators, or other dumb Alvin and the Chipmunks 2 gags.

As for Monte Carlo, it's always a bad sign when you obviously have to use other material as a basic formula to surround your script. Yes, this is sort of a rip-off. The victim: The Parent Trap. I must say, however, they made the right choice. Both the original, and in this case, but not very many others, the remake, are both great childrens films that don't go too far over the edge with humor, and have plenty of heart to them to redeem any dumbness. And, to add, even a boy can find The Parent Trap entertaining. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for Monte Carlo, a chick-flick of sorts really most entertaining to tweens and very young daughters of fashion model mothers who don't have day camp.

Let me try to wrap this up. When you really want show your children a good flick for them, stick with the classics. In particular, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, most, if not all Pixar films, the 90's Disney animated films outside Pixar, and of course, Charlotte's Web. And in the meantime, throw away Alivin and the Chipmunks, Judy Moody, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and, ah hell, might as well add Monte Carlo to those in the dumpster. Overall, good kids movies are just disappearing, and this is no exception.