Bratz: The Movie

While most movies based on toys are animations, this spin-off of the ethnically-diverse range of dolls is a live action teen movie. It embraces many traditions of the genre: four women pushing 20 play the new kids in a school that’s divided into cliques. Spoiled and blonde principal’s daughter Meredith (Chelsea Staub) is horrified when the pretty Bratz refuse to conform to the rules, preferring to hang out with each other rather than pick agroup (jocks, science geeks, etc). But this doesn’t last. Two years later (why?) Yasmin, Jade, Sasha and Cloe have stopped talking to each other and conformed – but when a spell in detention brings them back together, they decide to take on Meredith at the school talent contest. It’s derivative stuff, and played very straight despite its comical aspirations: this is ‘Mean Girls’ without the irony. Bitchy Meredith has the odd amusing moment, instructing her timid principal father (Jon Voight, no less) on how to run the school. But with their irritating holier-than-thou attitude and their ‘passion for fashion’, the leading ladies live up to their name. One for very little brats.