Movie Review: Jem and the Holograms [Emz]

So I recently watched this film on Netflix. I was aware of the bad reviews and the Box Office flop, but I thought I would give it a go.

The film was released on 23rd October 2015.

This film is based around the animated TV Series Jem that aired between 1985 and 1988.

The film stars: Aubrey Peeples (Nashville) as Jerrica Benton/ Jem, Stephanie Scott (ANT Farm) as Kimber, Hayley Kiyoko (Lemondae Mouth) as Aja, Aurora Perrineau  as Shana and Juliette Lewis as Erica Raymond.

Here is the Synopsis:

As a small-town girl catapults from underground video sensation to global superstar, she and her three sisters begin a one-in-a-million journey of discovering that some talents are too special to keep hidden. In Universal Pictures’ Jem and the Holograms, four aspiring musicians will take the world by storm when they see that the key to creating your own destiny lies in finding your own voice.

Review:

I surprisingly enjoyed this film. The film is set in present day where Social Media is a big thing. This is different to the TV Series that was set in the 80's.

The songs in this film were very catchy. I liked Hit Me Up and Youngblood. 

The theme of Jem being a mystery in an age where Social Media is huge and there is no place to hide, was a great idea, but could have been worked on a bit more I think.. not quite sure how.

We learn that Jerrica (Jem) and Kmber are sisters who lost their father at a young age. They were raised by their Aunt along with her two foster daughters , Aja and Shana.

Jerrica records herself singing and thinks she has deleted the footage afterwards as she is too shy to even think about uploading it, she even refers to herself as Jem in the Video. 

Her sister Kimber finds that the video had not been deleted and uploads it to YouTube.

The video goes Viral overnight at Jerrica under the name of Jem becomes huge on Social Media.

Jerrica is contacted by Erica Raymond from Starlight Productions and offers Jerrica a record deal. After originally only wanted to sign Jerrica, with alot of pushing from Jerrica she agrees that all the girls can go.

Before Jerrica's debut performance as Jem, the Robot that Jerrica and Kimber's dad supposedly made but didn't finish, activates during their first night in LA since they were children. it leads them around LA finding the missing pieces to put in the Robot known as 51N3RG.Y (Synergy.)

During her time in L.A. Jerrica learns that her aunts house is going to be taken from her and determined to help she asks Erica for her first payment in advance so she can help her Aunt. The only trouble is that Erica persuades her to continue with her Sisters.

This is a scene that has been replicated thousands of times in movies, not exactly the same but a similar idea.

Eventually things do come together and they reunite for their last performance. Jerrica finds that the earrings she was given by her father  were the last piece to getting Syngery to work. inside was a hidden message from her father telling her that she was his best invention and tells her how much he loves her.

 The film ends with Erica being fired and her Son taking control of the company. Followed by their next performance where get named Jem and The Holograms.

The mid credits scene introduces a rival band that Erica dropped years ago called The Misfits. As, she is out to get revenge she teams up with them. The leader of the band is called Pizzazz and is portrayed by Kesha.

There were Cameo scene from a few Orignal Cast members but it would have been nice for that to have been expanded a little more.

I enjoyed the song and parts of the storyline but there was alot I wasn't so keen on. There was alot of 'fans' shown during songs and after songs and some bits made it very corny. I feel that things were solved too quickly and there was much more that could have been shown. That being said I would listen to the songs over and over again.

The 80's theme from the cartoon was very present in the girls choice of wardrobe but only at the beginning, I felt they were modernized when they were styled in LA, It would be been nice to see a little more 80's glam.

At the end of  the day This was teenage film and although fans of the original Jem cartoon were disappointed (from what I read), it still works even if you have never heard of it before.

Thats all for now, till next time

Emz x