Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century

In 1999 came a children’s book adaptation, “Zenon: Girl of the 21^st Century,” which gives an interesting combination of futuristic elements and grounded characters for a fun, relatable sci-fi adventure.

It’s 2049, Zenon Kar, played by Kristen Storms, is your typical 13-year-old girl. However, Zenon lives on a space station orbiting Earth. Entrepreneur Parker Wyndham, played by Frederick Coffin, comes for his usual routine check up, but Zenon thinks something’s wrong. However, space station commander Edward Plank, played by Stuart Pankin, thinks Zenon is just panicking. As punishment, Zenon is sentenced to live on Earth with her Aunt Judy, played by Holly Fulger. Besides the culture shock, Zenon is going to miss a performance by her favorite band Microbe for their first show in space. Cup of Moe stated in their review, “Microbe is clearly a thinly veiled Backstreet Boys or NSYNC reference.” Facing the problem, Zenon won a contest to appear onstage with Microbe frontman Proto Zoa, played by Phillip Rhys. While on Earth, Zenon finds actual proof of a conspiracy by Wyndham to hurt the space station with a computer virus and cash in on insurance money.

Aside from the more childish parts, “Zenon: Girl of the 21^st Century” is a surprisingly intelligent film. From the start, the protagonist Zenon Kar is shown as a normal teenager. Under the surface of advanced technology and other space environment, she’s the typical teen. Zenon hates waking up early, sleeps through class, wants to break the rules, and is crazy with the popular pop bands. Despite the space setting, Zenon and her best friend Nebula, played by singer Raven-Symone (who you might remember as Olivia from “The Cosby Show”), are basically the same as their Earth characters.

Cup of Moe said, “Zenon’s stint on Earth highlights these differences, or lack thereof.” As her potential friendship and romantic interest in classmate Greg, played by Gregory Smith, prove, the differences between Earth and space life is highly superficial. Technological differences aside, human life is universal.

Cup of Moe compared, “In this way, “Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century” is the “Night of the Comet” of DCOMs. 1984 sci-fi cult classic “Night of the Comet” follows two Valley girl stereotypes plopped into a post-apocalyptic scenario. It’s an unusual twist where the characters aren’t altered substantially by the setting. Similarly, “Zenon” upends the trope of advanced civilization. Instead, humanity is relatively unchanged despite living on Earth or on a space station. It’s less “2001: A Space Odyssey,” and more “The Fifth Element.””

The plot is easy and very predictable. From the start, it’s very clear how “Zenon: Girl of the 21^st Century” will tell the story. However, it still impresses with a clumsy, accidentally successful protagonist in Zenon. She is both likable and annoying, a strange combination. Cup of Moe ended the review by saying, “Overall, its message of diversity breaks down societal barriers. It’s a surprisingly, refreshingly inclusive film that’s fun yet subtly poignant.”

Once again, I don’t think parents or any other adults will find a lot of enjoyment in it, seeing how they probably will be able to tell the message it will tell, but for kids, they will like and understand the message of being a social outcast and what to do when being in a different environment than the one you’re used to being around. It’s a nice film for kids that if I was the right age, I would find myself enjoying it, and so I wouldn’t say this would hurt for kids to watch. Not really one for adults, for kids can definitely watch and enjoy.

The popularity of this film actually made it come out with a sequel, which we will look at tomorrow in “Disney Channel Original Movie Month.”