Phantom of the Megaplex

17-year-old Pete Riley, played by Taylor Handley, is assistant manager at The Grande multiplex. The theatre is supposedly haunted by the phantom of a late projectionist. The Grande has been chosen as the site of the premiere of the Hollywood movie “Midnight Mayhem” and the owner is wanting complete perfection of the staff for the event. Pete’s younger brother Brian (Jacob Smith) and sister Karen (Caitlin Wachs) come to the movies while their mother (Corinne Bohrer) goes on a date (John Novak), causing embarrassing problems for him. Brian has also given a pass to Caitlin (Heather Bertram), a girl he has a crush on, however the bullying Donny (Jeff Berg) has decided that he wants to take Caitlin away instead. As the time of the premiere nears, the mysterious Phantom appears to be trying to ruin showings in every theatre.

“The Phantom of the Megaplex,” released in 2000, is a Disney Channel children’s movie. In the beginning, it gives a funny idea – that of the famous story of “The Phantom of Opera” having been relocated to a modern multiplex theatre. Sadly, when watching “The Phantom of the Megaplex,” we never quite get the children’s version of “The Phantom of the Opera” that the film suggests it will be about.

Rather than the story of a beautiful understudy being kidnapped by a romantically obsessed insane person who hides his deformed face behind a mask, the film is more about kids running around a multiplex and a series of mysterious accidents. Moria said in her review, “There is nothing even remotely scary in any of this – any suggestion of such has been bled out for the Disney Channel’s children’s audience. What we now have is more of a children’s mystery caper than it is ever a horror film. The revelation of the villain behind it all is a typical kid’s movie piece of improbability.”

On its own way, “The Phantom of the Megaplex” is driven by high energy. The film at least gives a decent accurate look of life at a multiplex theatre and the different characters working there – about the only thing the employees never seem to do is complain about earning minimum wage. There is a stupid part with Taylor Handley hitting popcorn into a bucket with a hockey stick. Moria was right when saying, “On the other hand, the film fails to work as a postmodern horror film either. When it opens with a series of references to classic horror movies, it has clearly made these up – if the film had used real references it would have located itself much more effectively within the context of horror movie history, not to mention have been a fanboy dream.”

The cast are completely unknowns then and since. Moria noted, “As the lead kid, Taylor Handley plays with a pouty, pretty boy surliness that is all wrong for the role at hand. The Phantom of the Megaplex does bring out of retirement the lovely Corinne Bohrer, a neglected actress who should be doing the sort of roles that Sarah Jessica Parker and Jennifer Aniston get these days.” At least we have the late Mickey Rooney in here, but he can’t save this.

I can relate to a theatre being crazy busy during the release of a huge, anticipated film. When I worked in a theatre, it was crazy busy in the beginning of the release of “Avengers: Infinity War.” Seeing that I could relate to the insanity, which was something I did get through. However, everything else just seemed juvenile, which I know it would be since this is a children’s film. I don’t think I will ever see this movie again with how silly it got, but if you want to watch it, go ahead. I didn’t really see any enjoyment in this.

Look out tomorrow to see what I will look at next in “Disney Month 2021.”