Bratz

On paper, this must have seemed like a natural for preteen girls: a live-action movie based on the hugely popular dolls that have all but superseded Barbie in the marketplace. Formerly inseparable friends Yasmin (Nathalia Ramos), Jade (Janel Parrish), Sasha (Logan Browning), and Cloe (Skyler Shaye) fall into different cliques after entering high school, but reunite to challenge bullying student body president Meredith (Chelsea Staub). The impossibly pert girls, likely at the request of director Sean McNamara, bounce around like jumping beans and behave like kids several years younger. The most palatable Brat—Yasmin—is entertaining when dancing and singing around her bedroom with her Latina grandmother (Lainie Kazan), but Jon Voight, obviously working just for a paycheck, has a thankless role as a bumbling school principal who takes orders from his daughter Meredith. Not recommended. [Note: DVD extras include audio commentary by director Sean McNamara, a “Passion for Fashion” section with the featurettes “Bratz Style,” “Fashion Profiles” and “Highlights & Glitter” (15 min. total), a “Discovering Bratz” section with “Casting the Bratz,” “A Day in the Life…” and “Bratz Are Different” (13 min. total), seven deleted scenes (10 min.), “The Music of Bratz” section with “The Music & Dancing of Bratz,” “It's All About Music” and “Rainy Day: Making the Video” (9 min. total), a behind-the-scenes featurette on three different scenes (7 min.), music videos for “Fearless” and “Rainy Day,” and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a ‘tweens only flick.] (E. Hulse)