Monte Carlo tells the story of three young adults Grace (Disney star Selena Gomez), Meg (Gossip Girl’s Leighton Meester) and Emma (Katie Cassidy, relative newcomer starred in Supernatural and Gossip Girl). They travel to Paris together to celebrate Grace’s graduation from high school.
The start of the film is pretty slow going, mostly to set up the awkward relationships between stepsisters Grace and Meg and former classmates Meg and Emma. This could have been cut short or moved until later in the film to avoid yawning and wondering are we ever going to get to Monte Carlo????
After some dodgy tour guides, the perfect package holiday land right at their feet. The girls discover that Grace looks exactly like a British socialite who is planning to leave the country for anyone to take her place (hint hint girls).
To nobody’s surprise, the girls impersonate royalty and score a trip to Monte Carlo. Was I the only one that was worried that they left their luggage behind?
The movie follows all three girls on their separate journeys in Monte Carlo. They all individually learn something new about themselves thus making them happier people (of course).
We see them grow as people, but do we believe it? Not so much; Leighton’s character Meg was the only one who stood out. Her performance as the book shy Meg was believable and consistent throughout the movie, while the other girls’ performances varied throughout the film that it made it impossible to see them as real people.
There are no surprises when it comes to this film. It wraps itself up the way you expect it to.
The film will please fans of ‘Sisterhood of Travelling Pants’ as it has similar themes. If you’re looking for something pretty to watch and you don’t want to think too much, Monte Carlo is the film for you. [Watch trailer]
Alan Finnegan
