Sleepover

The kids aren't quite all right in this patchy teenage comedy which doesn't hide its influences all that skilfully. A John Hughes-lite effort, Sleepover sees a trio of 14-year-old girls trying desperately to elevate their social class in the minefield that is high school. Over the course of a single night, our heroines, led by the unflappable Julie (Alex Vega, Spy Kids) have to complete all sorts of initiation rights nonsense, including robbing the school hunk's keks and going on an online date. Their competition of a gang of uber bitches is tough enough, but the fact that Julie's dad (Jeff Garlin) is babysitting the girls only further complicates matters.

Bearing more than a passing resemblance to the recent Mean Girls but lacking that film's edge and energy, Sleepover is a knockabout teenage comedy that never quite manages to get far beyond the mildly engaging. Although it starts out promisingly enough - the heroine's something of a tomboy rather than the traditional swan in waiting - the film lacks a purpose to match its occasional quirks. The slip back into teenage character cliche is predictable but what really undermines Sleepover is its patronising air when it comes to its protagonists. Especially the tubby ones.