It is no coincidence that the mermaid heroine of Aquamarine looks like a Barbie doll, for this is a sparkly endorsement of what can best be described as Barbie culture – that cruel world, governed by image-conscious magazines such as Teen Vogue, in which self-respect comes via a makeover. Two quirky best friends (Emma Roberts and Joanna Levesque) learn to look like pop starlets, win boys and influence people when the title mermaid (Sara Paxton) washes up on their beach. What underwater magic does she teach them? She takes them to the mall.
