Quickie Movie Review: "S Club 7: Seeing Double"

Rated: PG-13 for some sexual material (US) / G (Canada)
Starring: Tina Barrett, Paul Cattermole, Jon Lee, Bradley McIntosh, Jo O'Meara, Hannah Spearritt, and Rachel Stevens (aka S Club 7)
Released: 2003

Synopsis: Life is hard for mega-popular British pop group S Club 7.  Sure, their records are selling by the millions...but, between the live performances, the autograph sessions, the interviews, and the studio recording time, they just want a break! One day, they see themselves performing live in L.A....but, they're all the way in Barcelona! Not sure what's going on, they jet to Los Angeles to figure out who is impersonating them and why.  With plenty of danceable pop numbers, a bit of suspense, and a smattering of comedy, this movie is a must for S Club 7 fans!

My Review: When I was in middle school, my favorite music group was dc Talk.  I never saw them in concert--at least, as a full band--but, I loved pretty much everything they did, and I was rather excited when I found out they were making a movie.  The film they spoke of never came out in theaters; instead, an unfinished version was released on DVD in 2002 with a bonus remaster of one of their albums.  Imagine my disappointment when, instead of a regular movie, it was a documentary, with random concert footage, the band's day to day life, and no real plot.  I had expected it to have a story, not be a long music video.  S Club 7's movie is the kind I would have wanted dc Talk to have made.  Though the plot is strange, the musical numbers work very well.  It may have its nonsensical moments at times, but, it harkens back to a time when movies were merely meant as an escape from the real world, not gritty and realistic like way too many films are today.  Parents and other discerning viewers, be warned: This movie is "PG-13" for a reason, as you'll see in the content concerns mentioned below.

Content Concerns:

• Sex: A guy touches a young woman inappropriately.  Girls walk up to a guy and ask for an autograph while he is relieving himself.  Fake breasts are mentioned twice; a vibrator once.  Guys and girls are seen in the shower together, but nothing explicit happens, other than a slight innuendo. They are, however, seen stripping, though nothing crucial is shown.  1.5/5
• Nudity: The women of S Club 7 and other ladies in this movie seem to have a penchant for immodesty.  Many scenes feature them in low-cut and/or midriff baring outfits, and bikini tops are also seen.  The shower scenes show bare legs and shoulders, with the implication that they are naked.  2/5
• Language: Mostly name-calling, though there is one usage of the d-word (not by a S Club 7 member). 4/5
• Violence: A bit of slapstick. 4/5
• Drugs: None. 5/5
• Frightening/Intense Scenes: The members of S Club 7 are nearly thrown into a pit ridden with snakes and spiders.  (Spoiler: They are rescued, and the creatures are never seen.)  Later on, a building full of people nearly blows up.  (Spoiler: The self-destruct mechanism is turned off just in time. 3/5
• Other: The members of S Club end up becoming lazy and let their clones perform for them. 4/5

Score: 3.5/5