How do they know?!

Our kids are really into musicals these days. They've always loved "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" and movies like "Little Mermaid" and "Mulan," which are full of music.

But we entered a new era of "the musical" with the Camp Rock phenom. They LOVE.LOVE.LOVE these movies (Ok, I do too - they're just endearing!). But it's getting to the point where we have to pause movies ENDLESSLY during the viewing to explain things. Movies are no longer just entertainment - we now have to factor in the reality/fantasy behind it.

Why is Alex's mom now Sonny's mom, and why does she have a different name? And why do the Jonas brothers have different names? Why is Sonny now Mitchie and how does everyone know the same dance moves?

So then we explain the concept of ACTORS and how they play different people on different shows.

"So, is her real name Sonny or Mitchie?"

"Her real name is Demi Lovato. She pretends to be Sonny and Mitchie, on different shows."

"So Selena Gomez isn't really a wizard?"

"No, she just pretends to be one on the show."

"So, Miranda Cosgrove is Carly's real name? Does she really have a web show?"

"I don't think so. She just does on the show."

"But the Jonas brothers really are brothers?"

"Yes."

"I don't get it."

Thanks, Disney, for making movie watching so magical.