Parents who took their daughters to see Bratz: The Movie most likely found it a chore, but going by the ticket receipts, not many actually bothered. Based on a line of dolls, it's not surprising that there's little story to speak of. The eponymous BFFs (best friends forever!) mostly just preen and prance about.

School Daze

In a series of blink-and-you'll-miss-it featurettes called Discovering Bratz, we're assured by director Sean McNamara and co. that this is a story of friendship, diversity and "being yourself." He then goes on to contradict himself by admitting, "this is a film about fashion!" In the section Passion For Fashion, the costume designers explain how the girls' clothes reflect their individuality, which is a statement of female empowerment on a par with an old Spice Girls' video.

Of course the Bratz are also musically gifted - or so they claim. Another two featurettes follow them through dance rehearsals as the choreographer insists, "I'm trying to bring out their character and personalities." Apparently their characters and personalities revolve mostly around 'fabulous' outfits. But Janel Parrish (who plays Jade) does show some park of creativity. She wrote the song Rainy Day featured on this DVD along with the Fearless music video.

Valley of the Dolls

A light smattering of behind-the-scenes footage sees the girls flinging spaghetti at each other for negligible comedy value and Paris the dog enjoying a pedicure between takes. Chelsea Staub (who plays the villainous Meredith) gets to show off her elephant riding skills at a Cirque Du Soleil-themed birthday party, and apparently it was "like, ohmigod, incredible." Frankly, the elephant looks dejected by this whole tawdry episode.

Jon Voight wears a similar expression as Meredith's goofy dad in one of seven deleted scenes. Other grating moments include Nathalia Ramos, aka Yas, coming across like the archetypal bimbo as she tries to chat up the archetypal 'cute guy' Dylan (Ian Nelson). Then there's Jade who shows the science 'nerds' how to look cool with accessorised lab coats. Not that the filmmakers are generalising or anything - it's all about diversity and being yourself, remember!

McNamara fails to add any substance in a waffling commentary. He mostly just describes what's going on in a scene, throws in the odd bit of banal trivia and occasionally points out the continuity errors - eg, some scenes where shot after the summer break, which explains why Nathalia Ramos turns different shades of brown throughout the film. And we thought it was a comment on racial diversity... Like the Bratz themselves, this DVD is prettily packaged, but in truth there isn't much going on beneath the glossy exterior.

EXTRA FEATURES

Bratz: The Movie DVD is released on Monday 26th November 2007.