Another Cinderella Story Once Upon A Song Full Movie

[Martha Vanschaick]

Themovie's central message (other than that cruelty will eventually be repaid by justice) is that you should never be afraid to follow your passion or use your gifts. Both Katie and Luke are suppressed by controlling (and in Katie's case abusive) guardians, but they persevere and are eventually able to show off their musical talent.

The grown-ups are all negative role models: Gail is cruel and moneygrubbing, Luke's father is doesn't listen to him, and the guru is a quack. Katie is selfless but a bit too self-effacing; she doesn't ever stand up to her stepmother until prodded by Luke, who's a good role model for following your own dreams rather than those imposed on you by your parents.

Teens go out on a date and nearly kiss. Another couple flirts and ends up sharing a couple of kisses. The word "hot" is used a few times to describe girls. In one scene, a prank leaves a girl naked, but viewers only see her shoulders and legs. A boy makes jokes about "partial nudity."

Some insults like "idiots," "freakin'," "stupid," and "crap." The stepmother makes cruel comments about nearly everyone. She calls her daughter "untalented" and tells her stepdaughter that she'll never amount to anything. The stepmother also calls a girl "an Asian dwarf" and pretty much says something unkind every time she speaks. Her own young son calls her a "beeyotch."

Parents need to know that this is the third take on a familiar tale, A Cinderella Story. Like the first two movies, this one follows a talented-but-put-upon Cinderella stand-in who lives under the tyrannical rule of a mean stepmother. The teen romance is mild and only includes two sweet kisses, but the protagonist endures quite a lot of emotional -- and verbal -- abuse from her humorous-but-cruel parental figure. The stepmother character, however, gets hers in the end, and at the very least, this Cinderella has unexpected allies who help her triumph. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.

Katie Gibbs (Lucy Hale) is a gifted singer-songwriter, but before she can head off to music school for college, she must endure one final year under the emotionally abusive supervision of her "evil stepmother" Gail (Missi Pyle) and bratty stepsiblings. Gail, who's the headmistress of Katie's private school, has landed a star transfer pupil, Luke (Freddie Stroma), the handsome son of a billionaire music producer. A condition of his attendance is that Luke produce the school's annual talent show. When fame-hungry Gail realizes that Katie is much more talented than her own daughter, she forces Katie to sing songs that stepsister Bev (Megan Park) will lip-sync during the big show. Katie agrees, but watching Bev and Luke get cozy over her own songs nearly breaks her heart.

This third installment in Warner Bros.' popular Cinderella Story franchise is as sugary sweet and entertaining as the others -- which is to say, fluffy and cute, not deep and enduring. Tween girls will delight in Hale (star of Pretty Little Liars) and Stroma's (who memorably played the cocky Cormac McLaggen in Harry Potter) attraction at first listen, and parents will approve of how their relationship develops in an almost Cyrano de Bergerac fashion -- a meeting of like-minded artists, not teens in hormonal overdrive.

Unlike other Cinderella adaptations, Katie's stepsiblings aren't always cruel, but the stepmother is completely cold-hearted. Pyle is definitely the movie's top scene-stealer, with her pinched smile and narrowed eyes. She's the kind of character actress who deserves a starring comedy or sitcom role but instead has to settle for these supporting gigs. Pyle's love-to-hate-her performance, combined with Hale and Stroma's adorable leads, makes this a perfect sleepover pick for girls who haven't graduated to PG-13 romances.

Families can talk about how family relationships are portrayed in this story. Does Katie have a healthy home environment? How does her stepmother treat her? Are kids sometimes treated this way in real life?

Summary: A Cinderella story: for mild language and innuendo. Another Cinderella story: Mild sensuality and language. A Cinderella story, once upon a song: Language, and some crude and suggestive content. Cinderella story: scrubbing diner floors, coping with wicked siblings and all the while dreaming of Princeton (the perfect spot for a would-be princess to find a prince!). Another Cinderella story: happily-ever-after becomes dancing-ever-after in this musical, magical update bursting with energy and style. A Cinderella story, once upon a song: Katie dreams of being a recording artist but is continually thwarted by her cruel stepmother and stepsister. When Katie falls hard for Luke, the new boy at her Performing Arts school, she tries to get his attention with her singing. But when her stepsister takes credit for Katie's amazing voice and Luke falls for the wrong girl, Katie must learn to stand up for her dreams.

The second sequel to A Cinderella Story. Katie (Lucy Hale of Pretty Little Liars) dreams of being a recording artist, but is continually thwarted by her cruel stepmother (Missi Pyle) and stepsister (Megan Park of The Secret Life of the American Teenager). When Katie falls hard for Luke (Freddie Stroma), the new boy at her Performing Arts school, she tries to get his attention with her singing. But when her stepsister takes credit for Katie's amazing voice and Luke falls for the wrong girl, Katie must learn to stand up for her dreams before her stepmother forces Katie to sing Luke into the arms of her wicked stepsister.

This film provides examples of: Abusive Mother: Gail to all of her children. Katie gets it worst of all, but her other children are either ignored like Victor or tools like Bev. Actor Allusion: Beth tells Katie that she could go on American Idol and forget all about her stepfamily. In 2003, Lucy Hale made the final group in American Juniors, which is a spinoff of Idol. And Your Little Dog, Too!: Gail threatens to hurt Angela if Katie does not go along with her scheme; specifically, she threatens to expel Angela for whatever petty reason she can find, which would ruin her chances of getting into Julliard, her dream school. Anti-Love Song:Like a malignant tumor,

She's got no sense of humor.

Just like a swollen blister,

It's best to just resist her.

She's not exactly a witch,

She's just a terrible bi... Bad Date: Bev and Luke's. It's so bad it's funny. Cannot Talk to Women: Sort of. Luke doesn't normally have any problem talking to women, but any time he talks with Katie he finds it difficult to fully verbalize any thought, even when he thinks it's Bev he's in love with. Child Prodigy: Victor, who builds spy equipment from scratch, has his own lair, knows how to take control of the security system and constantly pulls Rube Goldberg-esk pranks on everyone. Cinderella Plot: Pulls some twists. Katie dreams of being a recording artist, and is coerced into using her musical talents to help her stepsister fool the Prince, this time a boy at her performing arts school named Luke. She also has a stepbrother, who eventually sides with her when he decides that she's the only one in the family who cares about him. Comically Missing the Point: Gail in her feeble attempts to understand spirituality. Cutting the Knot: Luke, as soon as he figures out what's really been going on this whole time. He steals a stage camera and turns it on Katie while she's singing for Bev, just showing everybody the truth. Dance-Off: Angela uses this to distract Gail at the dance. Dare to Be Badass: Upon seeing Bev get ready to seduce Luke with the load of lies Gail cooked up, Katie decides to take her life into her own hands. Darker and Grittier: Though still very much a movie acceptable for younger audiences, neither of those which proceeded it dealt as blatantly with sexual or adult content. Distracted by the Sexy: Luke momentarily upon seeing Katie naked except for the door mat she's using to cover herself. He then promptly give her his jacket and proceeds to continuously, if subtly, check her out. Dreadful Musician: Bev couldn't carry a tune if it was strapped to her back. Face of an Angel, Mind of a Demon: Bev's character overall. Financial Abuse: Gail threatens to steal Katie's inheritance if she does not go along with her scheme. She also extorts money from the school. Good All Along: Victor. He may seem "Satan's very own personal mini-me", but he does actually care about Katie (since she's the only one who cares to remember his birthday among other things) and mans up to help her when he sees she really needs him. Hand-or-Object Underwear: Katie attempts to cover up her nakedness by using a potted plant (which subsequently breaks) and later a welcome mat. Hidden Depths: Bev. She may be shallow and conceited and doesn't mind lying to get what she wants, but she does have a some decent emotions somewhere, very deep down, as she admits that she only is going along with her mother's scheme because she is jealous of Katie's talent and wants to be more than just another pretty face. Hotter and Sexier: Not much, given that it is still a PG-rated movie aimed at teens. Still, the protagonists of the first two movies never got an implied nude scene like Katie does here. Ignored Epiphany: Bev admits that she is basically doing her mother's bidding. This goes nowhere, until the end, when after Gail's scheme completely falls apart and she attempts to salvage it, Bev finally has enough and tells her mother to give it up. I'll Kill You!: When Victor locks Katie out of the house naked, she screams, "I'm gonna kill you!" Implausible Deniability: The inevitable conclusion of all Gail and Bev's lies. Lost Will and Testament: Averted. Katie's father had the sense to leave Katie a trust-fund. However, Gail manages to find a loophole that would allow her to steal it. Love at First Note: Played Straight, though Katie technically meets Luke well before he hears her sing. The exploitation of this trope is the movie's premise. Maintain the Lie: Katie struggles with this as she falls more and more in love with Luke. Male Restroom Etiquette: A wannabe musical groupnote with the already eyebrow-raising name "Oral Majority" follows Luke into the "facilities" and start singing while using the urinals around him. Fortunately they're really good.Luke: Look, you're right. They have potential, and they're great. But first, my talent-finding friend, promise me no more auditions in the bogs. Mistaken Identity: Before the events of the film Gail mistakes the very ethnic looking actor Tony for a spiritual Guru. Now he spends all his days living in her house as her personal Guru under the fake name Ravi. Katie finds out mid-way through and enlists his help in changing her life. Modesty Towel: Katie briefly wears one before Victor deprives her of it and locks her out of the house. Mythology Gag: "Tell Me Something I Don't Know". Naked People Trapped Outside: Victor traps Katie outside with no clothes and no towel. She uses a potted plant to cover herself but it breaks and she ends up wearing a welcome mat. This is why we put locks on doors people. Noodle Incident: Apparently Luke's last girlfriend was certifiably insane. The details of their relationship are never given but whatever happened may have ended with her being taken off to a mental hospital. Oh, Crap!: Katie's face when Luke mistakes Bev for her. Playing Cyrano: Katie is forced by Gail to do this for Bev. Unlike most examples, Luke instantly falls in love with Katie the second he realizes the truth. Arguably justified in that he realized that she was being manipulated the whole time. Politically Incorrect Villain: Gail has a borderline obsession with the Mystical India stereotype; she themes the school dance around Bollywood cliches (and in an early scene complains that they didn't pick something more "American" before being reminded it was her idea) and she has a live-in spiritual guru who, unbeknownst to her, is actually an Italian-Indian actor; she just saw an Indian man with a stereotypical accent (which he faked) and automatically assumed he was a guru, and he went along with it. Running Gag: Luke is constantly ambushed by musical acts wanting to audition for him while he's in the bathroom. Sadist Teacher: Gail, well a Sadist Headmistress. Scooby-Dooby Doors: The Chase Scene between Luke, Mickey, the Vice Principal and a crazed fan. Snowball Lie: Bev using Katie's talent becomes more and more complicated until it just all falls apart. The Stinger: Only about two seconds into the credits, but it still counts. A now ruined Gail tries to sing at a ranch she once sang at years before, only to (once again) be subjected to Produce Pelting and booed off the stage. That Syncing Feeling: While Bev is on stage, first her brother destroys the recording, but Bev pretends that her microphone is broken. Then Katie is forced to sing her sister's part live in the backstage. But then, Luke start to film her with a movie camera, and Katie's best friend pushes her on stage, revealing the fraud. The Glorious War of Sisterly Rivalry: Katie and Bev. Token Black Friend: Mickey has no real role outside of being Luke's best friend and being the reason he keeps getting audition offers in the bathroom. Angela serves a similar role, though she's Asian rather than black (and she doubles as the fairy godmother figure when it comes to getting Katie to the dance). Unwanted Assistance: Katie demands Tony and Victor not help get her out from under Gail, but they do it anyway. Without them, and Luke lending his own timely assistance, Bev and Gail might have won. Wicked Stepmother: Gail. "Cinderella" is in the title, what do you expect? You Must Be Cold: When Luke finds Katie after she was locked out of her house naked and wearing a welcome mat, he covers her with his jacket. Hilariously, she then demands his pants, and he actually starts taking them off before she says she was kidding.

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