2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Wonderful Movie for Preadolescent Girls (& Boys), October 19, 2008
Parents of daughters who are just about to enter puberty should make an extra effort to seek out this movie an show it to their daughter. First, it is one the whole family can enjoy., as evidenced by my five and seven-year-old grand kids - who watched it with their almost eleven-year-old sister. In a nutshell, this movie is about giving up those precious things we enjoyed as a child to start to learn about the responsibilities of an adult.
Maddie is about twelve years old, and she has had a favorite stuffed animal since she was tiny, and this 'friend' was one she could confide in and who 'talked' back to her. The younger children love the movie because of the animation of the stuffed dog to show whatever Maddie was thinking. Maddie gradually learns to depend less on her imaginary friend and to take on the role of an adolescent learning to cope in the adult world.
The great quality of this movie is that it shows Maddie's friends in all the variety of kids just blossoming from being a child to being a teen. Some of the girls have noticeable breasts, while Maddie is nearly as flat as a five-year-old. [In one scene she stuffs cloth in her bathing suit to make it look like she also has breasts.] In another scene, one of her friends is boy-crazy and an older boy, saying she must be at least sixteen, kisses her. Maddie isn't ready for boys, so she thinks it is silly. Still, she has to put up with Feddy, who has a crush on her and seems to turn up everywhere Maddie goes.
The movie also gives a couple of good lessons about the need to obey one's parents, and one that rang home with my grandchildren, that you should always be as nice as possible to everyone because you never know when the situation might change, and you'll be sorry for being mean to him or her.
Parents should watch this movie with their daughters, and use it as a great opening to discuss with preadolescents what is about to happen to them. I reminded my oldest granddaughter that some girl's bodies will mature sooner than others, some will become interested in boys earlier than others, and even that some will become serious students and others will just want to party. Knowing beforehand will make all the strange changes taking place in her body, in her emotions, and in her social framework to not seem so strange to them; they'll know that what is happening is perfectly normal.
There is nothing questionable or objectionable in this movie for traditional values families. It is simply, a wonderful family movie about growing up! If you have a daughter about to enter puberty, she will be glad (even if only secretly) that you showed it to her and talked to her about it.
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Elisha Cuthbert Dressed Like Lolita, November 19, 2004
First off let's understand that this movie is incredibly B. That's saying a lot since I've seen all of Elisha Cuthbert's made for Canadian TV movies. It's really really B!
The plot: This film is not about the moon or dancing on it. It's about a junior high Canadian girl Madeline (not Elisha Cuthbert) who goes to school and plays with her junior high Canadian friend Elisha. What exactly `Dancing On the Moon' is about I have no idea. The story seems to shift without explanation: from an eccentric aunt coming to visit, to a nerdy boy drowning, to Madeline talking to her stuffed dog. (These scenes come across like Captain Howdy in the `Exorcist')
As for the only reason you're even thinking about seeing this movie, Elisha Cuthbert? Yes she is in almost every scene and looks very sexy. In fact she's dressed just like Lolita throughout the entire film. And we get that famous scene of her in a bikini you seen so many times on the internet. In one very out of place scene, the girls visit a high school party, where they see an older boy smoking pot and Elisha makes out with him. Pretty shocking for a children's film.
The shear fact that `Dancing On the Moon' features Elisha Cuthbert in a leading role instantly qualifies it as a great movie. But I have seen better such as `Believe', `Time At the Top', and `Who Gets the House?'
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5.0 out of 5 stars
AWESOME MOVIEEE, October 18, 2011
This review is from: Dancing on the Moon (DVD)
I LOVE THIS MOVIE! for about 2 years I had been trying to figure out the name of the movie and i found it today! Its not on netflix and cant wait for it to be available here so i can buy it. I saw it when I was about 11 or 12 and now im 21. Its a great movie for young girls especially before they become teenagers and enter their puberty stage.My younger sister loves this movie. I cant wait to get it!
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