A big time movie producer invites Eloise and Nanny to Hollywood, and the Plaza Hotel's most famous six-year-old is instantly overcome by visions of overnight stardom and red-carpet premieres. When Eloise arrives in Tinseltown only to be asked to audition for a role in a major studio film, she thinks her glamorous dreams may actually be coming true. It's an adventure full of famous actors, crazy directors and behind the scenes fun. But Eloise soon discovers making a movie isn't always as exciting as it seems. Will she be able to pull off her secret plan to stop from becoming a huge Hollywood star and go back to being just plain fabulous Eloise? Imagination runs wild and being bored is never allowed in this fun-filled animated adventure featuring the talented voices of Lynn Redgrave, Tim Curry, Cynthia Nixon, Lacey Chabert and more!
The glitz and glamour of Hollywood take center stage in this installment of the Eloise DVD series as the lovable title character embarks on a journey across country and auditions for a role on the big screen. Kids four and up, especially little girls with high show biz ambitions like Eloise's, will love following her adventures on a movie set, including the highs (being given the title role) and the lows (waiting around for hours between scenes). The film does a wonderful job of catching subtle Hollywood humor, like when Eloise tells the gofer on the movie set that she doesn't look like a gopher.
Aspiring actresses will love watching the behind the scenes preparations unfold, from hair and make-up to rehearsing lines. An important lesson in being grateful for opportunities and being respectful is also present in the secondary character of Debbie, a spoiled child star who throws temper tantrums on the set and yells at her mother before being fired from the film. She eventually learns her lesson and is given a second chance, for which she is incredibly grateful and apologetic regarding her earlier terrible behavior.
Five-year-old Ava, who I occasionally babysit, loves the Eloise series of DVDs. She admires Eloise for her "fancy" attire, such as bright pink movie star sunglasses, and thought that Hollywood looked like a fun place to be. Thankfully, she recognized right away that the way Debbie was treating everyone wasn't nice and we were able to talk about what she would do differently.
--Abby