"Fifteen year olds are supposed to do things like this," proclaimed Lola Cep, almost as if it was her mantra. Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen is exactly the kind of film that the young women of America should be seeing. Is it silly to say that this is closer to what my High School years were like rather than Varsity Blues? Sure, I didn't become friends with a rock star or become the amazing lead in my school play, but I had a lot of fun and there was always an adventure surrounding an event with me around.

Lindsay Lohan does that same thing. Everywhere she goes, fun is sure to follow. Surprisingly, few remember her original breakout role in The Parent Trap, where she played a twin. Yes, you heard me right. She played both sisters, and right then critics knew she was destined for stardom. Then she snuck back into the light in a well-known tale with a new twist. Starring alongside Jamie Lee Curtis, Lohan echoes child stars of the 80's in Freaky Friday. Now she's back as the vivacious Lola in Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen. She simply emits a glow of energy and happiness whenever you see her. Lola is the perfect role for Lohan to finally grab the attention of audiences everywhere. She is enough girl-next-door, without being too Hollywood and her age makes her roles even better. Hopefully we'll see more from her in the future. My only fear is that she may be destined for type-casting as the artistic high school student who always needs to prove herself.

Alison Pill (Ella) has also spent a fair chunk of her years in the entertainment industry. She's played mostly art house roles or in made-for-TV movies, but it is refreshing to see a new face that can act and has the potential to be something more than just a one-time face. She reminds me a little of Julia Stiles. I think its in the nose. In Confessions, she plays the nerd-turned-hip-chick Ella, who is scooped up from the shambles of teenage hell by Lola on her first day at school. This story of friendship is one I think all girls, young or old, might be able to understand and appreciate. When growing up, there often seems to be the up-tight friend coupled with the noticeably more laid-back friend where the two play off each other's personalities and learn from one another. It's a great message to send to those young girls out there who are not as concerned with an honest and innocent friendship and are trying too hard to be like older siblings or young women they see on the television.

Aside from these two lovely ladies delivering enjoyable on-screen chemistry, the plot is also a lot of fun. Sure, it's a little extravagant and far-fetched, but it's a film made for young adults. Are you telling me Goonies wasn't a little bit far-fetched? The best part of the plot, though, is that it incorporates everything it means to be a teenager into the film. It's not about going on scavenger hunts and trying to win the boy of your dreams, but rather about living life to the fullest and discovering yourself. And sure, maybe picking up a boy on the way. Being a young teenage girl is about having fun and nothing more and I love this movie for reminding us that there is more to childhood than romantic endeavors and the destruction of innocence.

While the film lacked the keynotes of superior moviemaking, it stays true to its form without falling into conventional cliches. Director Sara Sugarman, whose filmography is nothing spectacular, brings heart to this teenage drama. I hope she's the driving force behind keeping the characters clean (i.e. bad is bad and good is good), because sometimes when characters become too despicable, it makes a movie difficult to watch. Here, the "popular" girls are mean to a believable degree without having some radical change at the end of the film. They do not storm off pouting, nor do they become completely enamored with the heroine. Sugarman takes her fresh cast and allows them to act naturally and also allows her movie to be spunky without soaring over-the-top. She avoids the flaws of modern teenage movies by keeping things simple, with enough flair to grab our attention.

Gail Parent also had a hand in creating this pleasant success. She adapted Dyan Sheldon's book Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, and performed an apt job in creating a worthy piece of family entertainment.

Other than that, the film is glitzy and energized and will leave you wondering what will come of this bright young star. The color pink is a common motif throughout, but that only helps the argument that this film is all about girls. The mean girls try too hard to act like adults and come off childish, but the two girls being themselves seem magical to us. A message worth passing along.

Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen may not be so much a confession as a way of life. Why not live every day to the fullest, regardless of what people think of you. That doesn't mean being mean and not having a good heart. It merely means having confidence that you are someone special and you don't need anyone else to make you feel that way. Not friends, not a man, not anyone. You are who you are and you should revel in the experience of being you. As far as teenage dramas go, especially nowadays, Confessions is a cut above the rest. It has a good message and is not just pointless drivel. So for those moms out there looking for a good film for mother-daughter-movie-night, this is definitely worth it. Not only will you be nostalgic for your days as a young girl, but your daughter might learn a few things.

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