Movies for 12 Year Old Girl Bday Party?

[lisa_from_nj]

My daughter and I are trying to figure out a movie to show at her upcoming birthday party. I would like something that obviously the girls would enjoy, but that is age appropriate. Is PG 13 ok? I tend to think so, otherwise it's mostly young movies that won't hold their attention, but it depends on the movie. I told my daughter no Harry Potter. Her favorite, but her friends kind of roll their eyes she starts talking HP.

So far, we are considering: Hairspray, Mama Mia and 27 Dresses. Are these ok? Would they appeal to 12 year-old girls? My daughter thought Mean Girls, but really I don't like it, would prefer a movie without the nastiness.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Lisa

 

[nmmom95]

Mean Girls ends well. Despite the nastiness, I felt like the message was a good one. I actually really liked it. I also liked What a Girl Wants with Amanda Bynes.

 

[mom0299]

My daughter will be 13 next month. She likes "Confessions of a Shopaholic", "The Devil Wears Prada", "Soul Surfer", "Monte Carlo", "Gnomeo and Juliet". We haven't seen "Dolphin Tale" yet, but it looks good too.

 

[SueM in MN]

Ever After - a twist on the Cinderella story. Funny, sweet and very good acting.

Ella Enchanted - another fairy tale with twists.

Princess Bride

 

[bgirl29]

I think Hairspray is fine. I personally wouldnt show 27 dresses to someone else's child. How about Letters to Juliet? How about The Princess Diaries?

 

[figment52]

I would not show Mamma Mia - it is about a young girl who wants to know who her father is and her mother has it narrowed down to one of three men. Not appropriate for a 12 y/o.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

How about "Now and Then"? I LOVED that movie when I was that age and I think it is a good movie to bond over.

 

[cornflake]

I'd say something like Mamma Mia, as it's fun, campy and sing alongy, or Mean Girls, as most everyone likes it and it's smart and pro-girl, or if something just dopey amusing - what about 13 Going on 30?

 

[SueM in MN]

I would not show Mamma Mia - it is about a young girl who wants to know who her father is and her mother has it narrowed down to one of three men. Not appropriate for a 12 y/o.

I would agree with that - some of the parents my not like that message.

I think Hairspray is fine. I personally wouldnt show 27 dresses to someone else's child. How about Letters to Juliet? How about The Princess Diaries?

Agree with 27 Dresses.

 

[PrincessKendall]

I would say 27 dresses , mean girls (has a really good message), or soul surfer's an awesome movie too !

 

[cornflake]

I would agree with that - some of the parents my not like that message.

What's the message of Mamma Mia besides that Amanda Seyfried is the youngest 40-year-old in history?

Doesn't 27 Dresses have Katherine Heigel in it? Who'd do that to girls?

 

[McKelly]

I would say Dolphin Tale. It is relatively new and my just turned DD13 said it is now her favorite movie.

I also think Soul Surfer, Flicka, Secretariat, and any of the Disney Channel Movies (Lemonade Mouth, Princess Diaries, Enchanted) would be appropriate.

 

[lovesmurfs]

My DD is 12 -- some of her favorites are pet-related -- Hotel for Dogs, Cats and Dogs (and the sequel), etc.

As a more conservative parent, I wouldn't show a PG13 movie to under 13's. If DD came home from a party having watched one, I would be irked because I know what my DD can handle, and she's just not ready.

 

[minniebeth]

Soul Surfer would be my pick! Good, solid, inspirational movie!

 

[zoemurr]

"Back to the Future". They absolutely loved it and it was great 'cause no one had seen it already. (Not to mention it's my all time favorite.)

 

[aprilgail2]

My DD is 12 -- some of her favorites are pet-related -- Hotel for Dogs, Cats and Dogs (and the sequel), etc.

As a more conservative parent, I wouldn't show a PG13 movie to under 13's. If DD came home from a party having watched one, I would be irked because I know what my DD can handle, and she's just not ready.

I think you would lose most 12 year olds attention on those two movies- I know my daughter and her friends wouldn't be happy having to sit through those. Thats a tough age and so many things are "babyish".
We showed mean girls at one of our girl scout sleepovers for the 11/12 year olds and it was good. My daughter saw the whole twilight series at a sleepover recently (she had already watched them all in the movies anyway).
I would have no problem showing a pg-13 movie at a 12 year old party. I would not show an R-rated movie to other peoples kids but I have taken my own child to them. We went to see Rocky Horror at midnight with my daughter and a bunch of her friends and their parents!

 

[mom0299]

We also really like the Disney classics. "The Computer Who Wore Tennis Shoes", "Herbie" (the old ones), "The North Avenue Irregulars".

 

[Wendy31]

My DD just turned 12 in January, &, I agree, it's a tough age!

What about "The Princess Bride"?

I remember seeing it for the 1st time at a school-sponsored event when I was about 14. Years later, when DH was the youth group pastor at our church, we took the movie w/ us when we took the youth group on a weekend retreat to a cabin in the mountains. The girls in our youth group watched that movie over & over & over again all weekend long!

Or maybe "Grease"? It has some questionable themes, but it's campy fun & relatively mild.

DD got "Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken" for Christmas (it's an older Disney film), & she really likes it. It's about a girl & a horse & there's a little romance thrown in w/ a cute guy.

What about "The Cutting Edge"? It's about a girl & a guy who team up for the Olympics in pairs ice skating, an "opposites attract" story. He's a former hockey player, & she's a prim & proper ice queen... but they fall in love. There's a little bit of language, & 1, perhaps, questionable "morning after" scene, but nothing's shown (in a fit of anger, the guy goes to his hotel room w/ another girl &, the next morning, when she goes to his room to apologize, the "other girl" opens the door).

Or, one of my favorites is "10 Things I Hate About You". I haven't seen it in a while, but it's really cute! Very teenage-y. I don't remember really any questionable scenes.

We also really like "Space Camp" here! A group of kids accidentally launch into space during Space Camp. There's a little love story too.

We love "Soul Surfer"!! It's one of DD's favorite movies!

Edited to add - Like another PP mentioned, I would want to know what movie she was being shown if it was rated PG-13 - not saying I wouldn't let her see the movie, but I would want to know beforehand what movie it was & why it was rated PG-13.

Of the movies you listed, if I remember correctly, we watched "Mamma Mia" one night as a family. DS, of course, was bored, but I'm thinking DD wasn't that impressed with it either. We haven't seen "Hair Spray". And we actually have "27 Dresses", but I have yet to watch it all the way through. DD would like to watch it, but I've only caught "snatches" of it when it's come on TV. It's still unopened in its case.

 

[mickeyboat]

My 11 and 12 year old DDs loved Soul Surfer.

 

[mdsoccermom]

What's the message of Mamma Mia besides that Amanda Seyfried is the youngest 40-year-old in history?

Her character is 20, not 40, in Mamma Mia.

My now 12 and 10 year olds have seen that movie so many times. We love it (except for Pierce Brosnan's singing). But, at DD's 12th slumber party, the girls all opted to watch Jaws.