Monte Carlo

Beneath the many unlikely setups, forced romances, bizarrely juxtaposed character decisions and exceedingly unfortunate fake accents there is an interesting counter-cultural message within fluffy mistaken identity comedy Monte Carlo of being oneself no matter where you go geographically. Of course, since this is a zany teen comedy featuring a Gossip Girl and Justin Bieber's dead-eyed girlfriend, Selena Gomez, this message is treated hyperbolically and inconsistently when idealistic cipher Grace (Gomez) travels to Paris with white trash best friend Emma (Katie Cassidy) and uptight stepsister Meg (Leighton Meester). The girls are initially disappointed that the experience didn't change them, consisting mostly of dive hotels with limited amenities, only to have things shaken up when they discover that Grace looks exactly like rich bitch princess Cordelia Winthrop Scott. She then impersonates her – literally becoming someone else (get it?) – only to discover that being an insincere poseur only works for trendy urban liberals with fedoras. If this were all that was going on, this safe and disposable comedy of errors and close calls would work as harmless fodder, having the narrative consistency of a Jersey Shore episode, but featuring enough cutesy shenanigans and glib changes of heart to satisfy its target audience. Unfortunately, every girl inevitably meets a guy that changes their life, teaching them, and an entire generation of karaoke singing teen girls in skimpy attire, that even though travelling won't give you an identity or purpose, a man will. Included with the DVD is a brief supplement about shooting in Hungary, as well as a superficial interview reel about the different guys. Apparently, Glee's Cory Monteith is a real stand-up chap and the blank-faced Australian guy too lazy to do up his shirt is a natural actor, something indiscernible during the actual film where his portrayal of a dime-a-dozen globe travelling hippie child of privilege works only because it's his real personality. More entertaining is the interactive quiz that determines which Monte Carlo gal you are. I learned that I was a Meg; she's the practical one.