Barbie: Princess Charm School (2011)

Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

It is a performances centric movie

Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

A lot of people don't even realize the sheer number of Barbie movies there are out there. Well, I'm usually referring to the ones made in the 2000's. It seems like every direct to video animated movie is traditionally animated. It's nice to see something different. This is ranked as the best Barbie movie ever made, which isn't really saying that much. Barbie plays some woman named Blair.Odd she'd play someone when she's already a character. She wins a contest to go to a princess school and they actually do set up the story pretty well. It's revealed that she's a missing princess herself and the rightful heir to the throne. There's this rich girl bully who redeems herself by revealing she's only that way because of her parents. That must be a trope. Not the most original idea, but it is pretty good. **1/2

I am a father of girls and must therefore look for the good in the little girl movies I frequently have to watch. Most little girl movies are unwatchable, but this has a surprisingly good story. I can only imagine the materialistic, shallow plot this movie could have been with a title like "Princess Charm School", but it has a good plot with intrigue and good morals. One of my daughters pointed out similarities with Harry Potter. Yes, the computer graphics are simple, yes it's about Barbie, but I appreciate that some write a quality story even when they don't have to. In fact most Barbie movies are good. Barbie Rapunzel is my favorite Barbie movie. This would be up there close to the top on my Barbie list.

Barbie: Princess Charm School is never going to be one of my favourite movies, but especially for its target audience it is very charming. It does have some moments of corny dialogue(though most of it has some nice humour that children and adults alike will appreciate), and I do miss Kelly Sheridan, who was always likable and was getting better every time. However, the animation is lovely, fluid and colourful with attention to detail that was most welcome. The music fits perfectly, and is memorable also, and the story is told very nicely with as always a good message and charming as it should be. The characters are on the clichéd side, but likable in alternative to annoying(it's when clichés are annoying when I mind). The voice acting I had little to no problem with. Overall, charming and well-done, not my favourite Barbie movie but despite Sheridan's absence is up there with the better ones. 8/10 Bethany Cox

I'm going to give this a 9, not for its standing in the history of cinema, but for the simple fact that it made my three girls really, really happy - and it has good values without being prissy about it.For girls under the age of 10 it really is entertaining.The plot is appealing - a girl, Blair Willows, wins a lottery ticket to the Princess Charm School, and discovers her inner strength.All I can say is we all watched this as a family movie night, and we adults normally phase out fast, but both my wife and I really enjoyed this thoroughly and the kids just loved it - it's fun, and funny, and exciting and even though you know the tie-ins are there it actually stands up as a good kids film in its own right.Charming? You betcha.