Bridgit Mendler (far left), Samantha Boscarino, Sophia Anna Everhard and Elizabeth McLaughlin star in the DVD adaptation of 'The Clique'

Video adaptation of Lisi Harrison novel caters to fans of the book series

By Matthew B. Zeidman

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 12/19/08 – If you have a longtime fan of the Lisi Harrison novels in your household, you were probably on line to buy “The Clique” DVD the day it came out. However, if your child is a recent “Pretty Committee” convert, this live-action adaptation of the first book in the series is probably a safe bet for a last-minute holiday gift.

“The Clique,” inspired by Harrison’s time as an MTV employee, follows Claire Lyons (Ellen Marlow), an Orlando middle-schooler thrust into the unfamiliar worlds of high fashion, gossip and backstabbing when she begins attending a posh private school in Westchester County, N.Y.

Claire does all she can to fit in with the town’s resident alpha, Massie Block, and her group of well dressed and elitist friends, but begins to feel the weight of bad karma when she stoops to their level to get what she wants.

With an abundance of premium labels, palatial homes and ruthless teens, the film is similar in spirit to “Gossip Girl,” but is clearly geared to a younger crowd and lacking the explicitness and moral ambiguity of its more mature cousin. Though mean-spirited pranks abound, it’s nothing inappropriate for a 13-year-old reader-turned-moviegoer.

While the majority of the cast give merely adequate performances, newcomer Elizabeth McLaughlin brings a surprising charisma to her role as Massie. When she stares daggers at Marlow’s character, it provides both drama and comic relief without seeming cartoonish.

As for the dialogue, it was clearly written and directed to mimic the over-the-top style of the novel, which might turn off the uninitiated. But, like “Twilight,” those who have read the novel will likely be pleased by the film’s consistency in regard to its source material.

In conclusion, any fan of “The Clique” will get a kick out of seeing the book series’ characters come to life on the small screen. For the curious non-fan, however, hedge your bets and rent it.

This entry was posted on Friday, December 19th, 2008 at 12:36 am and is filed under Fashion, Film, Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.