Common Sense Media Review
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
age 10+
Dance to the beat of the 80s with teenagers and seniors.
Not present
Videos and photos
Based on 11 parent reviews
What is the story?
In GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN, Janey (Sarah Jessica Parker) goes to school in Chicago, where her favorite dance show is held, Dance TV. When the station announces that it is holding a competition to select two new dancers for the show, her best friend, Lynn (Helen Hunt), encourages Janey to try out. She has to lie to her drill sergeant dad and sneak out of the house, but when she makes it to the finals, will her dream come true? Will evil rich girl Natalie (Holly Gagnier) fix the competition to take the final spot? Will Jeff (Lee Montgomery) fall in love with her?
Is it good?
Sit back and giggle: This movie is just a good, cheeky time. Get a lot of help Hairspray (minus the political awareness and divine Ricki Lake) and sprinkle it with a candy-coated version My so-called life and what you have is a completely tubular 80’s teenage dance movie Girls just want to have fun. With bad fashion (neon fingerless gloves, anyone?), bad hair, and even worse dancing, this movie features some of today’s most popular actors doing some of the cutest things you’ve ever seen. Check out the pre-Sex and the City Parker as a Catholic school brat who dreams of dancing on Dance TV (hosted by Richard Blade, who some ’80s music fans may remember as an LA radio DJ). Watch her do back flips and practice dance lifts a la Dirty dancing. Watch as Academy Award-winning actress Hunt nails it in some of the most absurd – but actually worn-out – ’80s ensembles and big, flowing hair. That’s it Totally Awesome without irony. And if you like the 80s, then is totally awesome.
Forget the plot, though. Just concentrate on Solid Gold quality dance tracks and outrageous fashion. Forget, if you can, that Helen Hunt is too mature – she looks like she’d pull off the role of Lynn (where’s AJ Langer when you need her?) and just look for a cameo by teenage Shannen Doherty and the New Wave girls in Cindy Lauper’s video for “Girls Just Want to Have Fun”.
Talk to your kids about…
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Families can discuss appropriate ways to blow off steam – what are the things kids often want to do that parents won’t let them do? Are they dangerous?
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Do you think Jane’s father’s rules are too strict? How do you deal with rules you don’t like?
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What are the role models of the characters in the film? Can a teen movie have strong positive role models and still be entertaining?
Did we miss something about diversity?
Research shows a connection between children’s healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in the media. That’s why we’ve added a new “Different Representations” section to our reviews, which will be published continuously. You can help us help children