A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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Educational Value
very little
The movie intends to entertain rather than educate, but there are some strong messages about self-awareness and appreciating individuality.
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Positive Messages
some
Viewers see a teen wrestle with conflicting emotions about her future goals and the expectations placed on her by others. The process teaches her to listen to her heart and trust her instincts, which earns her the respect of those around her and gives her a stronger self-identity. Positive relationships with friends and family are a source of strength for many of the characters. Because the story exists in two different eras, there are some gender stereotypes that exist in scenes set in the past (girls make it their goal to land a boyfriend, guys assume the dominant role in relationships, etc.) that are then challenged by the modern-day characters, with positive messages about gender equality, tolerance, and individuality.
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Positive Role Models
some
Brady and McKenzie help make good changes in Tanner's and Lela's lives by inspiring them to stand up for what they believe. It's their willingness to challenge the status quo that changes how the teens think and winds up saving them all.
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Violence & Scariness
very little
The movie's villains are more comical than they are intimidating, but they do hold teens hostage and stun one with a ray gun at one point. There's some brief peril and a few moments during which a main character's safety is in question, all with predictably happy results.
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Sex, Romance & Nudity
very little
Brady and McKenzie are an item throughout the story, but their physical contact is limited to hugging and a couple of near-kisses. Other teen relationships develop as the story unfolds, all with similarly innocent expressions of affection.
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Products & Purchases
a lot
The Teen Beach Movie’s marketing machine churns out products like apparel, accessories, and home decor; a soundtrack featuring the movie's 12 songs is available on iTunes and in stores; Radio Disney events around the country distribute promotional items bearing the movie's name and the stars' images; and other promotions are linked to One Direction and R5 (Ross Lynch's band) concerts.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that, like High School Musical before it, Teen Beach Movie is a marketing conglomerate designed to sell not just the movie, but also the extensive line of clothing, home decor, accessories, and, of course, a soundtrack associated with it. Tweens will flock to this highly promoted movie, thanks in part to their familiarity with stars like Ross Lynch, who hail from other Disney projects, and they won't be disappointed in the story's entertaining blend of nostalgia, comedy, and sweet teen romance. For their part, parents will be pleased with the movie's worry-free family friendly story that also sends wholesome messages about individuality, self-awareness, and positive relationships. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
What's the Story?
As summer winds down, surfers Brady (Ross Lynch) and McKenzie (Maia Mitchell) are determined to make the most of every last wave, but a bitter reality sets in when McKenzie's aunt arrives to usher her off to an exclusive prep school that will chart a new course for her future. Hoping to catch one last magical moment, McKenzie attempts to ride a monster wave, but she and Brady find themselves transported back in time and into the plot of his favorite beach-set movie, "Wet Side Story." Suddenly they're caught in the middle of a turf war between surfers and bikers and inadvertently disrupt the romantic plot between stars Lela (Grace Phipps) and Tanner (Garrett Clayton), making themselves the objects of their affection. Desperate to find a way home, Brady and McKenzie try to redirect Lela's and Tanner's advances toward each other, thwart the plans of a couple of bumbling villains, and smooth over the disagreements between the rivaling gangs on the beach –- all while sidestepping breakout song-and-dance numbers in this melodious musical.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether this is an accurate portrayal of teen life. Do you find Brady and McKenzie's relationship realistic? What challenges do they face? How might you cope with them in a different way?
Tweens: Have you ever been in a situation that called for you to stand up to your peers? Why is that hard to do? How do you handle peer pressure?
Talk to your kids about how the media influences us. Prior to seeing this movie, how often did you see it promoted? Did that make you want to watch it? How do advertisem*nts change our buying habits?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: July 30, 2013
- Cast: Grace Phipps, Maia Mitchell, Ross Lynch
- Director: Jeffrey Hornaday
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Friendship, Great Boy Role Models, Great Girl Role Models, High School, Music and Sing-Along
- Run time: 110 minutes
- MPAA rating: G
- Last updated: October 21, 2023
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