Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, this is a 2008 made-for-TV movie based on a tween book series, and it shows. The ratings tell the story: 5.2 on IMDb, 2.8 on Letterboxd—this is not hidden gem territory.

The core issue is that it's built entirely around mean girl behavior and social exclusion, which means you're watching relational aggression for most of the runtime before getting to any redemptive message. For kids already dealing with cliques and feeling left out, this could feel less like catharsis and more like reliving trauma.

Add in the fact that it's nearly 20 years old (flip phones! different social norms! that mid-2000s aesthetic!), and you've got something that's going to feel pretty dated to modern tweens. If you want to explore these themes, Mean Girls (2004) has aged better and is actually funny, or for younger kids, something like Turning Red tackles similar territory with more heart and creativity.

This isn't unwatchable, but it's definitely skippable. There are just better ways to spend 90 minutes.

Age Fit

Best for 11-14 year olds navigating middle school social politics, though honestly, there are way better movies about this topic. Younger kids won't get it, older teens will find it painfully dated and juvenile.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

35

Based on the premise and Common Sense Media age rating of 12, this movie centers on middle school social hierarchies and exclusion. The core narrative is about a girl desperately trying to fit in with popular, likely mean girls—not exactly modeling kindness or cooperation. The 'clique' genre typically involves relational aggression, materialism, and status-seeking behavior that's emotionally unhealthy, even if it eventually resolves with a lesson. Without more specific plot details, the setup alone suggests low wholesomeness.

Imaginative

25

A straightforward middle school social drama about fitting in with popular girls offers minimal imaginative content. There's no world-building, creative exploration, or invitation to build anything. It's a realistic social scenario that's been done countless times before (Mean Girls, Heathers, every teen drama ever). The low Letterboxd score (2.8/5) and mediocre audience ratings suggest it doesn't bring anything fresh or creative to the table.

Safe

65

For a movie aimed at tweens (CSM age 12), this appears to be relatively safe in terms of explicit content—no violence, gore, sex, or nudity expected. However, the emotional safety is questionable: relational aggression, bullying, exclusion, and the psychological impact of trying to fit in can be genuinely distressing for sensitive kids. The premise itself is about social cruelty. It's 'safe' in the traditional content rating sense but potentially triggering for kids experiencing similar social dynamics.

Enriching

30

While there's likely a moral lesson about being yourself or the emptiness of popularity, the journey to get there involves glorifying and dwelling on mean girl behavior. The low ratings across platforms (5.2 IMDb, 58% RT audience, 2.8 Letterboxd) suggest it's neither particularly insightful nor well-executed. Any enrichment value is probably heavy-handed and predictable. Entertainment value appears minimal based on audience reception.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Could spark conversations about peer pressure and the cost of fitting in
Relatably portrays middle school social dynamics (for better or worse)
Presumably has a 'be yourself' message by the end
Short enough that you won't lose an entire afternoon if your kid insists on watching

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What to Watch For

Heavy focus on exclusion, materialism, and relational aggression—this is basically 90 minutes of mean girl behavior
Could be genuinely upsetting for kids currently dealing with cliques or bullying at school
The 2008 fashion, phones, and social dynamics will feel ancient to modern tweens
Low ratings across the board suggest even the target audience found it forgettable

Conversation Starters

"Have you ever felt pressure to change who you are to fit in with a group? How did that feel?"
"Why do you think some kids form exclusive groups? What are they getting out of it?"
"If you saw someone being left out like the main character, what would you do?"
"The popular girls in this movie seem pretty mean—do you think that's realistic or exaggerated?"

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