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Review: Monte Carlo

Awkward limitations
By BETSY SHERMAN  |  July 5, 2011
1.5 1.5 Stars



The latest tween pabulum features Selena Gomez in two roles, which is awkward because she only has one and a half expressions. Grace (Gomez #1) is a Texas teen whose parents give her a graduation-present trip to Paris, where she crosses paths with ultra-rich brat Cordelia (Gomez #2). Through a bit of mischief Grace passes herself off as the heiress in order to take a five-star jaunt to Monaco. Luckily, Gomez shares the screen with Leighton Meester and Katie Cassidy, respectively Grace's studious stepsister and hellraiser pal. The reasons not to doze off as director Thomas Bezucha goes through the formulaic plot paces are Meester's touching steps toward letting herself have fun and Cassidy's epiphany that though the fast lane may be nice to visit, she has it pretty good at home. Monte Carlo is decently mounted (except for a clumsily executed polo setpiece), with a nod to the '50s in its graphics and syrupy score, but it's hard to watch a trying-on-gowns scene post-Bridesmaids.

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ARTICLES BY BETSY SHERMAN
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  •   REVIEW: MONTE CARLO  |  July 05, 2011
    The latest tween pabulum features Selena Gomez in two roles, which is awkward because she only has one and a half expressions.
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 See all articles by: BETSY SHERMAN

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