The Prom has its heart absolutely in the right place—it's pro-acceptance, pro-standing-up-for-what's-right, and genuinely wants to teach empathy. The problem is that it's kind of a slog. At 131 minutes with uneven pacing and some cringey performances, even kids who love musicals may check out.
The LGBTQ+ representation is positive and the core message about inclusion is valuable, especially for families who want to have these conversations. But the execution is... let's just say there's a reason critics were split and audiences were lukewarm. It's earnest to the point of being preachy, and the 'famous people save small-town bigots' storyline feels dated.
If your tween or teen is interested in LGBTQ+ stories or loves musical theater, this could be worth a watch—just know you're signing up for over two hours of very sincere feelings and some secondhand embarrassment. It's not unwatchable, but it's also not the slam-dunk feel-good movie it wants to be.