What Do The Critics Say?

"This light comedy is being marketed to teenage girls, but it's comparable to Woody Allen's recent European-set features Vicky Cristina Barcelona and Midnight in Paris. It's a materialist fantasy of the continent. Hits a surprising range of emotional grace notes, including several moments of genuine regret, and concludes with an understated moral lesson about the value of self-respect over social status, something that would never happen in an Allen film." Ben Sachs CHICAGO READER "On every level, Monte Carlo conforms to the utterly predictable. But never annoyingly so, due to its likeable cast. The film's tween-age target demographic will be perfectly content with what they see here. A pleasantly forgettable trifle about three young American women enjoying their first European holiday." Leigh Paatsch SUN HERALD "A throwback to the sixties when fantasy films were all the rage. This was the era of Elvis movies at their escapist best, where Troy Donahue and Sandra Dee fell in love in the purest sense of the word, and where teenage girls could become princesses for a few days. "Monte Carlo" gathers all of these sixties traditions into one enjoyable package and tells reality not to intrude. It is a purely escapist film aimed at tween age girls and with them it should be a great success." JACKIE K COOPER "It’s basically bland and formulaic stuff, but should please its none-too-demanding target audience, as witnessed by the plethora of 12 year old girlish squeals and gasps of delight overheard at my screening. None of the actresses, it must be admitted, is as pretty as their respective male love interests, who, again, will elicit many a pubescent squeal. Glossy and flossy, more like cotton candy than a delicious soufflé, this romantic comedy should delight tween girls." David Noh FILM JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

"A winsome cast, a great location, and keeping the target audience in view bring an entertaining story that manages to have both a conscience and a heart. Selena Gomez and a fine surrounding cast head up this wholesome rom-com/road trip movie. Monte Carlo is the sort of movie that critics love to hate. Fox is wisely advertising Monte Carlo as a great move for mothers to take their daughters to, tacitly acknowledging it works best for young girls and those who drive them." Carolyn Arends CHRISTIANITY TODAY "Teenage girls and anyone with a tolerance for cheese will lap up this glossy, globe-trotting, very PG-rated wish-fulfilment rom-com that knows exactly what its tween audience wants. Commendably gives its three leads individual journeys that bring on satisfying, and not completely nonsensical conclusions. Ultimately, they're good role models as humble girls with a sense of what's really important." Adam Bub MOVIEFIX "More than a bit silly and contrived, but so agreeably cast and well executed as to certainly mitigate these shortcomings for its core audience, who'll lap up the improbably romantic adventure." Brent Simon SCREEN INTERNATIONAL "For the most part, Bezucha handles the multiple storylines successfully. Pacing is generally solid, abetted throughout by Michael Giacchino's lively score. A frothy, innocuous smorgasbord of girlhood wish fulfillment that scores a direct hit with its target demo." VARIETY "In the spirit of situational comedy, the "OMG! What do we do next?!" kind, the script clicks. What young gal wouldn't want the opportunity to be famous, have it all and party in a gorgeous place like Monte Carlo? Director Thomas Bezucha filmed on location in Paris and Monte Carlo. Meester can make any role more interesting than it deserves. The film's lessons on friendship and growing up are effective." Peter Paras E!ONLINE

The Inside Story "This story is set up as a bit of a Wizard of Oz fable," explains director and co-screenwriter Thomas Bezucha. "The girls are from a remote landlocked place, as was Dorothy Gale, and they journey to Monte Carlo, which is Emerald City. We’re doing a storybook version of France: it looks like a giant Easter basket, colorful and coated with sugar." Noting that the film has overtones of two 1953 favourites: "How to Marry a Millionaire" (starring Marilyn Monroe, Betty Grable and Lauren Bacall) and triple Oscar winner, "Roman Holiday" (starring Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn); producer Denise Di Novi notes, "Paris is such a romantic city, idealized by many young American women. For Grace, Emma and Meg, the Paris of their dreams isn’t panning out. It’s not unusual for a young person’s idealized expectations in life: be it for travel, dating or jobs: to be unmet by reality. However, our girls have a chance to change their luck, and they take it. All the way to the south of France. "I think it’s most every girl’s fantasy to wear spectacular clothing and feel like a princess, and that’s what our characters get to do in this movie," says Katie Cassidy (daughter of David Cassidy who starred in 'The Partridge Family) who was cast as Emma. "Emma reads Vogue and In Style and considers herself a bit of a fashion plate. She takes it upon herself to get Grace and Meg ready for the formal occasions, like the ball and the charity auction." "This is one of those hard to find movies about young women that has both the fun & fancy of a big frothy comedy and also a satisfying emotional journey and transformation for the characters," Di Novi ("Nights in Rodanthe") adds. "Each girl is going through personal challenges that are very relatable to an audience." The first challenge for Grace, Emma and Meg, when they arrive in Monte Carlo, is buying enough time to go through the remarkable wardrobe of socialite Cordelia Winthrop Scott. Indeed, Cordelia routinely travels with tens of thousands of dollars worth of couture clothing (Dior, da la Renta, Gucci, et al), and it all falls, at least temporarily, in the hands of the three gals from Texas, thanks to Grace's stunning likeness to the socialite. The newly formed princesses meet their respective Prince Charmings in a variety of ways and locales. Emma is introduced to a ridiculously handsome and real Italian prince, Domenico (Giulio Berruti), at an auction. Meg stumbles, literally, into an Australian backpacker named Riley (Luke Bracey from "Home & Away") on the steps of Paris's Sacre Coeur. Grace, meanwhile, finds herself attracted to the adorable but impatient Theo (Pierre Boulanger), whose wealthy father (Christophe Malavoy) is hosting the gala charity auction in Monte Carlo that 'Cordelia' is attending. "Grace has feelings for Theo, but he knows her only as Cordelia, so she’s totally insecure about how he would react to her real identity," Gomez explained. "Theo is so suave and sophisticated, there is no way he would be interested in a small-town Texas gal." Little does she know that Theo actually disdains the type of snotty, upper crust brat that Cordelia personifies. "This story is a comical look at a clash of cultures," says Boulanger. "Despite his own status, Theo doesn’t care for fancy people, and initially makes a negative snap judgment about Cordelia. However, he is surprised to learn she is not the girl he expected and that’s because Grace’s kindness and simplicity is seeping through her impersonation of someone else." Bezucha says: "Each girl has a romance, but it isn’t about the guys, it’s about how the girls see themselves in relationship to the guys." Rather than wondering, "Does he like me?", the girls ask themselves: "Do I like myself when I’m with him?" Bezucha (pronounced "bazooka) responded to the story on many levels, not the least of which was his own childhood experiences growing up in France, where his father and mother, both Americans, were a European history professor and accomplished musician, respectively. "This story is about the experiences and memories of youth that forever affect your life, and I felt it was a meaningful and emotionally honest take. I think that’s what resonates with girls this age. Di Novi ("Edward Scissorhands") and producer Alison Greenspan ("Nights in Rodanthe") were just coming off a rewarding experience with Selena Gomez on Elizabeth Allen's "Ramona & Beezus", and Bezucha shared their enthusiasm for the young actress. "I was completely charmed by Selena. She’s at a remarkable point in her career and life that mimics the story," he says. "She’s about to lift off, and I saw an opportunity to do an Audrey Hepburn thing where she transforms from a girl to a young lady." Greenspan added: "Selena is very charming and beautiful, but also very accessible, which lends her an 'every girl' appeal. She projects a kindness and normalcy that enables her to embody Grace, and for audiences to hook onto her journey." The filmmakers were well aware that casting Gomez was laying the bedrock of the movie, as she would be challenged to play three roles: Cordelia, Grace, and Grace pretending to be Cordelia. The actress began working with a dialect coach weeks before cameras rolled, finding the appropriate British accents for both Cordelia and ‘fake’ Cordelia. "I had no idea there are so many different forms of British dialect," Gomez ("Wizards of Waverly Place") remarked. "We came up with one that worked, and we did exercises and voice training two hours a day. I was quite nervous about it, really, and worked very hard to try to get it right. Cordelia's voice is in a lower range, while Grace pretending to be Cordelia has a slightly higher registry. Grace is more my natural voice, but with a slight Texas accent, which didn’t need emphasizing. The trick was keeping it consistent throughout the movie." The sassy character of Emma was entrusted to Katie Cassidy, who has garnered attention on "Melrose Place" and the hit remake of "Nightmare on Elm Street". "Katie instantly captured Emma’s spark," Bezucha notes. "She can demonstrate shrewdness, innocence and comedy simultaneously, which you don’t realize is so rare until trying to find it." Cassidy (Amanda in "Taken") recalls: "I had a Paris work adventure when I was nineteen, with a similar experience as Emma. I remember walking into the hotel where we were staying carrying bags of groceries because we couldn’t afford to dine at the hotel, and getting some strange looks. I can relate to the feeling of being on a lower rung of the European economic-social strata." In mulling over casting for the role of Meg, the yin to Emma’s yang, Bezucha kept hearing the name of Leighton Meester. Bezucha, who hadn’t seen "Gossip Girl", remembers: "The people I was discussing the character with all said, 'You have to meet Leighton.' So I read some parts with her from a very rough and unfinished previous draft and was very impressed with her effortless range." Di Novi says Meester ("Going the Distance") possesses "the aura of a 1940s movie star, like Myrna Loy. She’s a classic beauty, with a wonderful dry delivery, who can hit all the comedic and dramatic notes." In casting the three principal roles, Greenspan noted: "Tom always reiterated this idea of Neapolitan ice cream, with three very distinct looks, personalities and energies among the three leads. I think that’s exactly what we were able to find for this ensemble." With the troika of actresses settled, the filmmakers turned their attention to the role of Owen, in which Bezucha said he always envisioned Cory Monteith, who plays the role of Finn Hudson on the Golden Globe winning, hugely popular FOX TV series, "Glee". "In my office I had pictures up of the sort of iconic faces I wanted for the part, and Cory was always up there for Owen. He’s a big, friendly, very funny and likable guy. He sells the character the instant he’s on screen." A global casting search enabled filmmakers to fill the roles of the male romantic interests with two emerging young international actors: French thespian Pierre Boulanger (as Theo), who, at age fourteen, starred opposite Omar Sharif in 2003’s critically acclaimed "Monsieur Ibrahim", and Australian Luke Bracey (as Riley), star of the popular Oz series "Home and Away". The two are making their Hollywood debuts. High fashion also plays a key role in the movie, and 2000 Costume Designers Guild Award winner Shay Cunliffe spent the precious weeks before principal photography on whirlwind shopping tours of Paris, New York, London and Budapest. "We have some wonderful couture dresses that we bought from designer stores or borrowed from archives, or that have been custom-made. Our task was to lend a vintage flair to contemporary clothes. Tom and I referenced a lot of period films and are trying to capture a more timeless world. We have clothes from Dior, Chanel, De La Renta, and Gucci. The tone is classic and elegant. The clothes are all fitted, accessories restrained." Cunliffe ("Spanglish") traveled with two suitcases containing one hundred thousand dollars worth of dresses to Los Angeles for fittings with Gomez, and then on to New York for fittings with Katie Cassidy and, Leighton Meester (TV'S "24"). The three actresses were excited about the wardrobes, offered a lot of input, and, according to Cunliffe: "had a great time trying on various looks." 1997 Golden Camera (Germany) and Honorary César Award wibber Andie MacDowell, star of such hit comedies as "Groundhog Day", "Sex Lies and Videotape", "Green Card", and "Four Weddings and A Funeral", was on set for two days for the graduation sequence, as well as an interior scene taking place in their kitchen. "Monte Carlo is a beautiful story, and one of the things I liked about it in particular is that it leaves you with the feeling that anything is possible." Much of the "Monte Carlo" story takes place in Monaco’s ultra glamorous Hotel de Paris. Hosting some of the wealthiest and most influential people in the world, the hotel was only available to production for a few short days, with limited access. That required most of the shooting to take place on a 'recreated' hotel set. Production designer Hugo Lucyzc-Wyhowski ("The Truth About Charlie") notes: "The key to making this thing work was being able to convincingly replicate a substantial portion of the lobby of the Hotel de Paris on our Budapest soundstages." Landmark locations in Paris cannot be recreated, so a five day shoot took place in the City of Light prior to filming in Monaco. Mimicking the frantic pace set by the storyline’s tour guide, Madame Valerie, filming took place in and around Charles de Gaulle airport, the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Sacre Coeur, Pont des Arts, Arc de Triomphe, and for good measure, the Gare de Lyon train station. In Budapest, locations used includes: The Stefania Palace; the Hungarian State Opera House; the banks of the Danube River and, the just-opened Raleigh Studios. "Our filming in Paris was like The Amazing Race," Bezucha joked. "A whirlwind tour of the great sights of the city, with a few visual nods to some of my favorite French films, such as Lavender Hill Mob." What's It All About?

A young woman and her best friend have been saving for a what should be, the ultimate holiday: a long anticipated dream trip to Paris. But, when Grace learns that her uptight uptight step sister, Megg, will be tagging along, she's not too happy. After all, the two just don't get on at all. An explanation that it will give the two young women a chance to bond, doesn't go down too well either. Stuck with her step sister, Grace begrudgingly gives into the wishes of her parents. To make it worse, Paris quickly turns into a big disappointment. Until they decide to take a break from their lousy tour, lousy hotel and duck into the lobby of a 5-star hotel. Here, Grace is mistaken for spoilt, rebelious, British heiress, Cordelia Winthrop Scott. Before they get a chance to reveal the mix-up, the three are off on a whirlwind of paparazzi, private planes, couture gowns, romance and, a holiday in fabulous Monte Carlo.

The Verdict "If you were a hard-nosed critic who had no interest in what would appeal to tweeners or mums and teen daughters, it would be easy to rip into "Monte Carlo". So rather than show ones ignorance as to what might be the 'appeal' of such a film, the obvious choice (and a real smart move) would pay to take someone with you who sits within the films target audience, so that they can fill you in on, why tweeners, mums and their teen daughters, even VBGF's would want to see "Monte Carlo". In fairness to those hard-nosed critics, I'm lucky in a way: because I have four young grand-daughters, who have FOXTEL. Whenever I vist them, I can't wait to spend time with them watching FOXTEL shows like, the "Wizards of Waverly Place" and "Hannah Montana." Doing so, gave me a heads-up on the talented young actress Selena Gomez, who I had also seen (when I promoted the DVD release) in "Another Cinderella Story". And yes, I have also seen her two co-stars, Katie Cassidy and Leighton Meester in action. There's a lot of talent in these three actresses and they team-up well in "Monte Carlo", a film that has all the ingredients young girl tweeners and teeners adore: a fairytale feel; adventure; romance with hunky guys; fabulous gowns, all in a grand setting. All these factors are wrapped-up in an fun-filled and quite appealing storyline. Let's face it: what more could a young girl ask for? "Monte Carlo" will serve as perfect outing for mums with young daughters and, as a great excuse for teen girlfriends getting a group together and spending quality time at the flicks. Recommended. 3 1/2 STARS." Who Is Playing Who?

Selena Gomez Katie Cassidy Leighton Meester Cory Monteith Catherine Tate Giulio Berruti Andie MacDowell Brett Cullen Joe Camp III Luke Bracey Valérie Lemercier Pierre Boulanger Christophe Malavoy

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Grace/Cordelia Winthrop Scott Emma Meg Owen Alicia Winthrop Scott Prince Domenico da Silvano Pam Robert Carl at Diner Riley Madame Valerie Theo Bernard Marchand

The Production Team Directed by Thomas Bezucha Screenplay by Thomas Bezucha/April Blair/Maria Maggenti Screenstory by Kelly Bowe Adapted from the novel "Headhunters" by Jules Bass Produced by Denise Di Novi/Alison Greenspan/Nicole Kidman/Per Saari/Rick Schwartz Original Music by Michael Giacchino Cinematography by Jonathan Brown Film Editing by Jeffrey Ford Casting by Kate Dowd & Veronika Varjasi Production Design by Hugo Luczyc-Wyhowski Art Direction by Mónika Esztán Set Decoration by Véronique Melery Costume Design by Shay Cunliffe Run Time 109 minutes Rated PG [AUST] Copyright ©2011 - Fox Films - All Rights Reserved ©1999-2011 - The Movie Pages & Impact Internet Services - All Rights Reserved. Protected by Australian & International Copyright, Trademark Laws & Intellectual Property Rights.